Devotion #1: Don’t Just Know, Worship

Bertrand Russell was a well-known atheist, mathematician, and philosopher during the 1900s. He was once asked what he would say if he was wrong in his views and stood before God on judgment day. He replied, “Don’t blame me God, there wasn’t enough evidence.” 

In our passage today, Paul directly refutes this idea that there is not enough evidence for God. 

Romans 1:19-20 says, “For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.”  

Here, Paul directly says that God has made Himself plainly known through creation. However, we must know that there is more to our relationship with God than simply knowing He exists. As verse 21 points out: “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.” 

It is not enough to simply know that God exists, but we must also “honor” and “give thanks” to Him. Humans have been refusing to give God His proper honor and thanks since the beginning of time. Our longing to be the god of our lives is the root of all sin: we think we know better than God. Adam and Eve first made the choice to eat the fruit in the garden of Eden against God’s command and sin entered the world. We are all born with the same inclination. We have all made that choice in our own lives in one form or another. 

This is why we need a Savior. Our own actions are never enough to save us from God’s righteous wrath. It is only through the perfect sacrifice that Jesus made on the cross for our sins that we are made righteous and whole again. 

In 2 Corinthians 5:21, we read, “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” 

The odds are that if you are reading this devotional, you believe God exists. However, take time today to “honor” and “give thanks” to Him for what He has done in your life. 

That is the key to our walk with Christ; it is not enough to simply know He is real. We need to have a personal relationship with Him, where He is the Lord of our lives. He is our Lord and our King. He is worthy.