Is God Worth It?

Daily Reading: Romans 1

Scripture Focus:  And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. (Romans 1.28)

Devotional Thought: Many in our culture feel that the idea of God has outlived its usefulness.  They reason that people are enlightened to the point that they do not need God or that the idea of God is simply a crutch for the simple-minded.  Others feel that the God of the Bible is too restrictive, and serving him is too hard.

Things have not changed.  The Apostle Paul dealt with these attitudes nearly two thousand years ago: "They did not see fit to acknowledge God."  Since they did not think that God was worth it, he "gave them up to a debased mind."  There are three things at work in Paul's statement:

• There are some who do not think the knowledge of God is worth retaining.  This knowledge comes in the form of knowing God personally and knowing God’s Word.  To some, God is neither a Friend to walk with nor a Guide for right living.  They would rather live without God.

• People who do that are in the most vulnerable position.  Rejecting God, their minds are filled with the shifting values of this present day.  Their minds are debased: “showing great moral corruption.”  Debased minds lead to immoral living.

• When we have no moral moorings, we adopt whatever seems or feels right at the moment.  We end up doing what ought not to be done, chasing our lusts and fantasies with abandon.  Violence, abuse, neglect, promiscuity, vulgarity, greed, and prejudice abound.  Not only so, they are celebrated in popular entertainment.

What do you say?  Is God worth it to you?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, to believe you and to serve you in this day means that we have to "swim upstream."  Grant us courage and faith to stand against the tide of shifting and immoral values of today's culture.  Amen.

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 24.7-10

7 Lift up your heads, O gates! And be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.

8 Who is this King of glory? The LORD, strong and mighty, the LORD, mighty in battle!

9 Lift up your heads, O gates! And lift them up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.

10 Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory! Selah