Showing Respect to God

Exodus 3:5-6
'Do not come any closer,' God said.  'Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.  'Then he said, 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.'  At this Moses hid his face because he was afraid to look at God.


Like many of you I was brought up to show respect towards my parents.  In the dictionary, respect means: to treat with esteem- to have high regard for someone.  God is our friend, but we must never forget that he is also our sovereign Lord, our Creator and heavenly Father.  To approach him frivolously shows a lack of respect.  when we come before God we must remember who he is
and show him respect.  Do you go before him casually, as if he is just someone your talking to in the street? Or do you go before him
showing the respect he deserves?  Moses took of his sandals (Exodus 3:5-6) showing respect before God and conveying his own
unworthiness.

Never forget who you are talking to when you come before God.

Never forget who you are worshipping when you are in church.  God deserves respect.

Dealing with our mistakes.

Proverbs 28:13
He  who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses
and renounces them finds mercy.



Numbers 33:2
At the Lord's command Moses recorded the stages in their journey.

It is important for each of us to admit the mistakes we have made,even though we may find it hard to do so.  Praying to God also helps us to realize our mistakes, and we can ask him to forgive us.  Reading and learning from God's Holy Word can also

help us on our spiritual journey, and this can also help in our spiritual  growth.  It is good for us to check on our progress and avoid repeated mistakes.

Compassion

2Kings 4:32-36
When Elisha reached the house, there was the boy lying dead on his couch.  He went
in, shut the door on the two of them ( the boys mother and Gehazi) and prayed to the
Lord.  Then he got on the bed and lay upon the boy, mouth to mouth, eyes to eyes, hands
to hands.  As he stretched himself out upon him, the boys body grew warm.  Elisha turned
away and walked back and forth in the room and then got onto the bed and stretched
out upon him once more.  The boy sneezed seven times and opened his eyes.  Elisha
summoned Gehazi and said.  'Call the Shunammite.'  And he did.  When she came, he said
'Take your son.'  She came in, fell at his feet and bowed to the ground. Then she took her
son and went out.

Here in this passage Elisha was showing God's love, care and compassion for
people who are hurting physically or mentally.  We can not raise the dead, but 
we can show compassion to those around us who are hungry, lonely or hurting
in many ways.  As God loves the outcasts let us also show love to them also.
It is so easy for us to turn our backs on those who look or are different from us
That is not what God wants us to do, he wants us to show compassion as he shows

compassion to us.  Reach out to others, remember God values all living beings.