“For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.” Romans 1:21 ESV
What a sad statement. They knew God?? But.. didn’t honor Him, didn’t thank Him, and it did not end well for them. It reminded me of what Hosea said.
“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me. And since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.” Hosea 4:6 ESV
Lack of knowledge, rejection of God’s knowledge, they forgot God’s law. Then we see the people in Jesus’ day. Their hearts were far from God. They were play-acting.
“This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.” Matthew 15:8-9 ESV
Today we should ask God to search our hearts. Is there anything in our hearts keeping us from total surrender to God? We should pray that as we study His Word daily, God will use His Word to soften our hearts and mold them into His image. We can pray that His Word will never be just vain knowledge we collect without our hearts bowing in worship to our King Jesus.
“‘Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?’ And he said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.’” Matthew 22:36-40 ESV
