When did we forget that gathering with our brothers and sisters in the presence of God is so special? We are able to come in freely and because it is free, we don't value this gift and revere it the way we should. Reverence has been lost in the culture, not just the church. The definition of reverence is to regard or treat with deep respect. Do we treat God this way? We need to be Pentecostal in our pursuit of the Holy Spirit, Baptist in our pursuit of knowledge of the Word, and Catholic in our reverence for the House of God. The phrase "familiarity breeds contempt" fits - we take for granted everything we have from God. In America, people get more passionate about the National Anthem than they do about worship in church, but it won't bring the presence of God into the room. Christians have been killed all over the world because they spread love and this message has a supernatural impact. So have we forgotten this because it has come to easy to us? Have we forgotten that the Bible is the living, breathing Word of God or stopped standing on the Word of God and submitted our lives to the authority of it? Have we forgotten that God is both Sovereign Lord and Abba Father? We must have the balance between those because He is both. We cannot focus too much on the Sovereign Lord and think He is unapproachable and hard or too much on the Abba Father and think He is our personal genie. Jesus taught us the healthy, radical middle. We mustn't diminish the name of God in our speech with carelessness that is part of our culture. Our deep reverence for God should change how we act because we represent Him! Ask yourself today if your driving force is to honor the name of God with a deep reverence and fear of the Lord. When we know there is no one like Him, we can put our trust in God, fear Him and are secure in Him, not living our lives like we are on the throne.

Amen!

Reference verses: Proverbs 25:17; 1 Corinthians 11:26; Exodus 20:7; Prov 16:6; Psalm 111:10; Psalm 147:11; Psalm 115:11; Proverbs 14:26; Hebrews 12:28; Acts 9:31; Philippians 2:12-13; Matthew 6:9-13