John 7:16-17 (NLT)
16 So Jesus told them, “My message is not my own; it comes from God who sent me. 17 Anyone who wants to do the will of God will know whether my teaching is from God or is merely my own.”

Proverbs 14:27 (NLT)
27 Fear of the Lord is a life-giving fountain, it offers escape from the snares of death.

Fear of the Lord seems to trip a lot of folks up – as in I don’t want a God I have to fear… What kind of a freak would be like that – like some freaking Wizard of Oz? This life giving fountain is about reverence, awe, adoration, gratefulness, and yes, a tad bit of worry for what happens to us in eternity. That kind of emotion. Another case of English not quite getting the translation right.

You can choose to deny God exists. That doesn’t mean He has to pay attention or cease to exist. It justs ends up that the consequences suck for you. Kind of like gravity.

Why does God want us to worship him? Why do we worship anything (and we do worship a lot of stuff other than God, we just don’t admit it)? Maybe it’s the best alternative to worshipping anything other than him. Maybe it’s for our own good.

2 Chronicles 7:14 (NLT)
14 Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.

Restore their land and their souls. We have to remember that God doesn’t need us to be complete. He’s complete already. What we get from the relationship is one sided in our favor.

Romans 8:34 (NLT)
34 Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.

On this day, the antagonism towards God is bothering me for some reason. Maybe it’s the condescending hostility. Maybe it’s the haughty superiority. Maybe it’s the massive level of ignorance. I’m not sure.

What I do know is that it’s time to humble myself and watch that no poisonous root grows in my soul. It’s time to work at living in peace with everyone.

Hebrews 12:14-18 (NLT)
14 Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord. 15 Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many.