GETTING TO KNOW GOD:  HE IS MERCIFUL

TEXT:  "The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy." - Psalm 103:8

Most believers think that mercy and grace are synonyms.  Actually, God's mercy and grace often go together, but they are not the same thing.  Mercy is when we do not receive what we deserve.  Grace is when we receive something (good) that we do not deserve.  Our Lord has granted mercy AND grace to His children.  He is merciful because we are not receiving the just penalty for our sins.  He grants us grace because we receive forgiveness, adoption and relationship that we do not deserve.

In this message, we are focusing on the subject of God's mercy.  God is merciful.  Our text states that "The Lord is merciful ... and plenteous in mercy."  This tribute is high praise to the One we serve.

Americans are often guilty of having the attitude of entitlement.  We feel that we "deserve" certain things.  This mind-set is the product of human pride.  When we feel entitled, we are deceiving ourselves.  The attitude of entitlement rejects the notion that we need God's mercy.  Instead, men often think that God owes them His favor.  When we see ourselves as we really are, we begin to understand that we desperately need God's mercy.  Our sins are far worse that our sinful flesh wishes to acknowledge.  Through the pages of God's Word, we see ourselves as God sees us.  As we read the Bible, we learn that we are sinful, wicked people and what we really deserve is God's wrath.  When we learn this, our mind-set changes.  Instead of forcefully demanding that God give us what we feel entitled to, we humbly plead for mercy instead of justice.

To a certain extent, believers and unbelievers alike experience God's mercy every day.  The fact that a man is permitted to awaken to a new day is testimony of God's mercy to him.  Each moment that a man lives without facing the penalty for his sins is an act of God's mercy.  I think it is important to note that God's mercy is experienced in a greater dimension when a sinner repents and places his faith in Jesus alone for salvation.  When a sinner repents and believes, the price for his sin is fully paid for by the blood of Jesus Christ.  God mercifully removes the guilt and the associated penalty of the guilt from the sinner's account.

Furthermore, believers experience mercy daily.  Our on-going fellowship with God requires much mercy from Him.  Although we are forgiven and regenerated, we are not perfect people.  We fail our Lord often.  God is patient with His children and demonstrates great mercy on a regular basis.

  

As believers in Christ, our depth of love for Him is often expressed through gratitude.  When we meditate on God's mercy to us, our hearts experience overflowing gratitude and appreciation.  We thank Him for His continual mercy and walk humbly with the knowledge that we need His mercy more and more.

There is a word of warning that needs to be expressed, especially to unbelievers.  It is wrong to think that God's mercy negates His judgment.  God is still just.  Our text does not state that God never gets angry.  Instead, our text states that He is, "... slow to anger."  God does get angry.  Even though He is merciful, even "... plenteous in mercy," we know that there is a limit to His patience.  There will come a day when God's mercy will be withdrawn from sinners.  It is wrong to assume that God's mercy will keep a sinner from judgment.  If a sinner refuses to repent of his sins, he will ultimately face the penalty he deserves.  If you have never really repented of your sins and placed your faith in Christ alone for salvation, don't take God's mercy for granted.  Instead, throw yourself at the mercy of God right now, while His mercy is available.  Repent of your sins and turn to Jesus Christ for salvation.

God is merciful.  Our text is certainly true:  "The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy." 

GETTING TO KNOW GOD:  HE PROVIDES US GRACE

TEXT:  "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth."

- John 1:14

Grace.  What a beautiful word!  Our text teaches us that Jesus, the Word, is "... full of grace and truth."  Grace is the precious jewel of Christian theology.  The more you examine the subject of grace, the sweeter it becomes.  The topic of grace can never be fully explored by human minds, yet each of us can enjoy the benefits of grace.

John Newton, the former slave-trader turned minister, penned the words of the most famous hymn of all-time.  The lyrics of this hymn still remain among the greatest words apart from Scripture:

Amazing grace how sweet the sound

That saved a wretch like me;

I once was lost but now I'm found,

'Twas blind but now I see.

God's grace is truly amazing.  Grace is so amazing because the source of grace is so amazing.  God, Himself, is the God of grace.

But what is grace?  Grace is God's unmerited favor.  In other words, grace is God's mercy and blessings that we do not deserve.  When God blesses a person that is totally unworthy, that is grace.  

Grace is a gift from God, motivated by the love of God.  Grace is tangible evidence of God's kindness.

There's so much that could be written about this subject.  I want to concentrate this message on God & His grace. 

We tend to only focus on the blessings of grace.  We give thanks for the good things that God does for us.  We praise Him for His kindness and tender mercies.  We should do all these things.  However, most of the time we fall short of meditating on the One who provided the grace --- God Himself.

As I've written in past weeks, God is holy, just and great.  He does not owe mankind anything other than justice.  Of our own choice, we have willfully rebelled and sinned against God.  Our sins are acts of treason before the righteous God of the universe.  Yet it should amaze us to consider that this mighty God could respond against His enemies with acts of tender grace and love.

Far too many Christians get used to grace.  Grace is no longer a wonder to us.  We're no longer moved by the precious grace that transformed us.  We need to return again to the prayer closet and revisit the One who continues to show grace to us.

Grace is part of God's nature.  When mankind was at his worst, God was still at His best.  When men sinned so greatly, God provided an even greater measure of grace.

These days, there is a man-centered gospel that is popular.  This heresy has bits and pieces of humanism, secularism and pop-psychology thrown together.  Basically, the message of the man-centered gospel is that each one of us is good --- but we do have some brokenness that God yearns to help us resolve.  We do what we can to improve and Jesus will make up the difference.  Here's the problem with such teaching ---- it is NOT what the Bible teaches.

The Bible teaches us that we are all sinners.  The Scriptures tell us that the wages of sin is death.  Furthermore, we are completely unable to redeem ourselves.  We are spiritual bankrupt and utterly lost.  We cannot save ourselves.  Jesus Christ came and died on a cross, dying for those who will repent and believe.  His sacrificial blood is sufficient to cover even the worst of sinners.  As sinners, we are spiritually dead.  We don't need reformation; we need regeneration.  Only God has the power to make a dead man alive.  When Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, it was Jesus, not Lazarus, which performed the miracle.  Lazarus' resurrection was act of God's grace.  When a sinner repents and believes in Jesus, God saves him --- and the work is accomplished by grace. 

Every aspect of our salvation is because of grace.  Think about it.  God's calling, the Spirit's conviction, regeneration, transformation, justification, sanctification, and ultimately, glorification are all acts of God's grace.

Grace is truly amazing.  More importantly, the One who shows that grace is amazing.  It is astonishing to consider that Someone so great can also be so tender, loving and kind --- even to those who have rebelled against Him.

Have you experienced the life-changing grace of God?  Julia Johnston summarized it best when she wrote:

Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace,

Freely bestowed on all who believe!

You that are longing to see His face,

Will you this moment His grace receive?

Grace, grace, God's grace,

Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;

Grace, grace, God's grace,

Grace that is greater than all our sin.

GETTING TO KNOW GOD:  HE IS LOVE

TEXT:  "God is love." - 1 John 4:8

Through the years, many songs have been written about love.  Novels and poems have been penned about the subject of love.  These days, the word, "love," is misunderstood, misrepresented and misapplied.

Despite all the writings about the topic of love, few have been able to truly express the meaning of the word.  The best description of love is found in the Bible.  The Apostle Paul dedicated an entire chapter, 1 Corinthians 13, to the subject of love.  As we examine 1 Corinthians 13, we come away knowing that John was right when he wrote, "God is love."

Love is perhaps the most notable attribute of God.  John did not write that God simply loves people, instead John wrote that God IS love.  God possesses love, but more importantly, love is who He is.

All that we know about genuine love in this life constitutes just a shadow of the fullness of God's loving character.  His love is measureless because God Himself is infinite. 

God has demonstrated His love to us in a powerful way.  John 3:16 states, "For God so LOVED the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (Emphasis mine).  Furthermore, Jesus said, "Greater LOVE hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:13, emphasis added).  God's love was vividly displayed for us when Jesus died for our sins.  The cross of Jesus remains the greatest emblem of genuine love.  Paul echoes this truth in Romans 5:8: "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."

We would not know anything about love if God did not demonstrate genuine love to us.  He has granted mankind (yes, even unbelievers) the experience of enjoying and expressing human love. 

When we come to know God, through His Son, Jesus Christ, we are blessed to drink deeply from the fountain of God's love.  God graciously allows us the opportunity to have fellowship with Him.  We are permitted to bask in His love. 

Because we are touched by such divine love, we become agents of His love.  After conversion, a man begins to have a stronger love for his family, friends and his new spiritual family.  Love overflows his heart and splashes on those he meets.

Since God resides within the heart of a believer, the expression of love becomes a natural product of God's presence.

We love God because He first loved us (1 John 4:19).  Yet our love for Him pales in comparison to the amazing love He has shown to us.

It amazes me that God would want to have anything to do with us at all, yet He has shown sacrificial love to us.  God gave His very best for us --- all because of love.

To know Him is to love Him...because God is love.

GETTING TO KNOW GOD:  HE IS A GOD OF JUSTICE

TEXT:  "Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth." - Jeremiah 23:5

When I went to school, every morning we would recite the pledge of allegiance.  As I stood before the American flag with a hand over my heart, I would pledge allegiance to a flag that represented a republic that stands for "... liberty and justice for all." 

Our nation was founded upon Biblical principles, including the concept of "liberty and justice for all."  As the years go by, the liberties we once enjoyed have eroded significantly.  Furthermore, justice has become more of a theory instead of reality.

We have to admit that justice is not always served in our nation.  Even though our judicial system is better than many nations, justice is not always achieved through our courts.  Sometimes the guilty are set free and the innocent are imprisoned.  Even the United States Supreme Court makes decisions that are not always just. 

Despite all of the injustice of our world, one thing remains true.  God is just.  Do not let the injustice of our world blind you from the fact that justice will ultimately be accomplished. 

Here are a few things we need to know about the justice of God:

1.  THERE IS A JUDGMENT TO COME

First of all, there is a judgment to come.  This is an unpopular fact.  I think that the reason many embrace atheism is because they don't want to be held accountable for their actions.  Yet all of us are accountable.  We are responsible.  Although you may never stand before a judge in an American court, you WILL stand in judgment one day.  The Bible tells us that "... it is appointed unto men once to die, and after this the judgment" (Hebrews 9:27). 

2.  GOD IS THE ULTIMATE JUDGE

Our nation has petit courts, magistrate courts, different levels of state and federal courts, and ultimately, the Supreme Court.  Yet the ultimate Judge is not an American.  God Himself will be the ultimate judge.  Here in America, if a jury finds you innocent of a crime, the "double jeopardy" law prevents you from being tried again.  However, if you are guilty, you have not escaped judgment.  There is a judgment to come and God will be the judge.

3.  GOD'S JUDGMENT WILL BE TRUE

God's justice will not be based upon our nation's constitution, but based upon His Word.  His judgment will not be swayed by emotions or bribery.  Politics will not influence His decisions.  Since He is God, He knows every word you've spoken, every deed you've done, every thought you've entertained and the motives behind all you've said and done. 

In fact, God is keeping a record of everything.  Your entire life is being recorded.  His record will be used as evidence as you stand before Him. 

Although many will disagree with His verdict, all His decisions will be accurate and just.

4.         HIS VERDICT WILL BE FINAL

There will be no appeal to God's final judgment.  There is no one higher to appeal to.  There will not be sleazy lawyers filing appeal after appeal, trying to delay God's verdict.  In fact, the sleazy lawyers will be judged themselves. 

When it comes to human atrocities, we find comfort in the judgment of God.  We know that terrorists, child molesters, rapists and murders will one day receive what they deserve.  However, we must recognize that we, too, will stand before the same Judge and face His judgment.

You may think you have nothing to worry about.  After all, God knows your heart.  He does know your heart.  This is what God says about your heart:  "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" (Jeremiah 17:9). 

Some foolishly think, "If my good deeds outweigh my bad deeds, I'll be okay."  Is that so?  Think about a man who tells a judge, "99% of the time I don't murder people."  Do you think that a good judge will let the man go free?  Absolutely not!  His crime deserves punishment.

Our sins deserve punishment.  The truth is, we are all sinners who deserve the wrath of God.  You may think, "God is merciful, so I think I'll be fine."  Such a belief avoids the fact that God is just.  God cannot exercise mercy at the expense of His justice. 

The only way we can be saved from the wrath we deserve is for the mercy of God to be extended to us while satisfying the justice of God.  This was accomplished through our Lord Jesus Christ.  When Jesus died on the cross, the price for our sins was paid, satisfying the justice of God.  Jesus received the wrath we deserved.  Through His death, mercy and grace was extended to those who would repent and believe.  When a sinner repents of his sin and places his faith in Jesus Christ, grace is extended to him ... and the justice of God is satisfied.

God is just.  Everything He does is right.  One day, the lowly will be exalted, the exalted will be abased and every wrong will be made right.  

GETTING TO KNOW GOD:  HE IS HOLY

TEXT:  "Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts." - Isaiah 6:3

In some circles, the holiness of God is rarely mentioned.  It is easy to talk about the love of God, the grace of God and the mercy of God; but it is not popular to speak about the holiness of God.

The problem is that most people have a poor understanding about God's holiness.  How may we define God's holiness?  God's holiness is His moral perfection, defining His intrinsic glory.  It is not simply that God is morally excellent.  Instead, He is morally perfect.  Every aspect of His being (His attributes) is impacted by His holiness.

These days, morality is defined by personal preference rather than a Biblically defined standard.  Mankind has sunk to such a low level of depravity in order to avoid the standard God has already set.  However, mankind is still held responsible to God -- not according to their self-subscribed standard, but by His ultimate standard.

What do we mean by God's holiness?  God's holiness is His divine perfection, free from fault, flaws or failures.  God is spotless from all sinful impurities. 

Have you ever had surgery?  If so, you know that an operating room should be kept spotlessly clean.  Unclean instruments, unclean surgical hands, and an unfit setting are detrimental to surgical success.  We expect the hospital to provide a clean environment for a medical procedure.  We expect dirt and grime to be kept away from such a place.

God is far more spotless than an operating room.  His moral perfection so permeates His being that the dirt of sin is never permitted near Him.  He is holy. 

Our pagan society wishes for God to be known only as a "God of love."  Certainly, God is love.  However, when Isaiah saw the LORD high and lifted up, he heard the seraphims crying out, "Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts."  Notice the emphasis of their cry.  Three times they referred to God as holy.  We tend to dismiss such emphasis, but we should not.  His divine nature is so perfect that the utterance of the word "holy," was not sufficient to describe Him.  Instead, three times God was proclaimed to be holy.

As we worship the Lord, we need to remember His holiness.  The utter perfection of His being should have us in awe of Him. 

God's holiness also creates a problem for us.  Since He is morally perfect, no dirt or filth is permitted in His presence.  Each one of us must admit that we have been soiled by the dirt of sin.  In fact, we are filthy sinners.  Like Isaiah, the thought of God's holiness such drive us to say, "Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts." (Isaiah 6:5).

Sadly, many think they are going to heaven because they are "good."  Their concept of goodness is shaped by human comparison.  When we view our situation in relation to God's holiness, we are prompted to see our filthy condition and know the hopeless situation we are in.

How can filthy sinners come in the presence of God?  First of all, through God's convicting power, we must see our sinful state.  Until a man sees his condition in light of God's holiness, he is prone to continue in self-righteousness.   Recently, while cleaning the house, I realized how deceitful dust and dirt could really be.  In a dimly lit room, everything seemed fine.  However, when I turned on the light, I began to notice how dusty the furniture really was.  The same is true for your life and mine.  We think we are relatively clean until the light of God's Truth exposes the reality of sin in our lives. 

Secondly, a man must repent.  He must reject his self-righteousness.  He must come to the end of himself, with genuine contrition.  Like the prodigal son, he must admit his unworthiness to come to the Father.

Finally, a man must turn to Christ, alone, for salvation.  Not only must a man throw himself at the mercy of God, he must see that the only provision for his sin is found in the finished work of Christ on the cross.  Placing his faith in Christ, the blood of Jesus cleanses him from sin.  At that moment, the righteousness of Christ is imputed unto him.  Through Jesus Christ, a sinner becomes a saint.  Through faith in the Lord Jesus, an unrighteous man becomes a righteous child of God.

We need an experience similar to Isaiah's.  We need a fresh view of God's holiness.  We need to spend time in prayerful contemplation of His divine perfection.  He is holy.  He deserves and demands holiness from His people.  Being transformed by the Holy One, we have incentive to worship and serve Him.  

God is not just "a regular guy."  He is the Sovereign God of the universe.  He is holy.  Even the Name of God is holy (Isaiah 57:15).  That is why we should be VERY careful in our use of His Name.  "Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain." (Exodus 20:7).

We need to have a healthy understanding of God.  Even American Christians tend to humanize God --- acting as though God is just a human being.  I believe we'd experience revival in our churches if we began to think of God as the holy, divine being that He really is.

GETTING TO KNOW GOD:  HE IS FAITHFUL

TEXT:  "...great is thy faithfulness." - Lamentations 3:23

It is difficult to find people you can count on.  Very few people are reliable.  There was a time in our country when written contracts were not necessary --- a man's word was sufficient. 

These days, it is not uncommon to hear of lawsuits because a company refuses to own up to its commitment.  Many marriages end with divorce because one or both people prove to be untrue.  When a stranger makes a promise, you can't trust him to keep that promise.

It is comforting to know that God is still faithful.  Our text teaches us that His faithfulness is great.  The old hymn, "Great Is Thy Faithfulness," is based on this verse.   Do you remember the words of that great hymn?

"Great is thy faithfulness," O God, my Father,

There is no shadow of turning with Thee;

Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not,

As thou hast been Thou forever will be.

God is faithful.  Even if everyone proves unreliable, you can always depend on God.  God's faithfulness will never be compromised by deceit, incompetence or ignorance.  God will never find Himself unable to keep His Word because of a busy schedule or forgetfulness. 

Our faith rests upon the faithfulness of God.  When we repented and believed, we relied upon Him to keep His Word and save us.  We depend upon Him daily to meet our needs.  We are relying on Him to keep His promises.  Our resurrection and future in heaven is contingent upon the faithfulness of God.

Consider our salvation for a moment.  Most people think that salvation is contingent upon our faithfulness.  Actually, our salvation is based upon God's faithfulness rather than our own.  Even when we sin as Christians, we experience forgiveness because of God's faithfulness, not our own.  Look at 1 John 1:9, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (emphasis added).  If our salvation or preservation were dependent upon our faithfulness, we would all perish.  Adrian Rogers once said, "I wouldn't trust the best fifteen minutes I ever lived to get me into heaven." Our salvation is based upon Christ alone.  He is faithful to keep every promise He has made.

Your spouse may have proven to be unfaithful.  A close friend may have betrayed you.  A co-worker may have deceived you.  But you can depend upon God.  In our text, Jeremiah wrote to God, "... great is thy faithfulness" (emphasis added).  His faithfulness is great.  God does not have to sign a contract.  His Word is sufficient.  He cannot and will not fail to keep His promises.

This year, Cumberland Valley Music published a song I wrote entitled, "Faithful To Me."  The chorus summarizes my personal experience with God's faithfulness:

He's been faithful to me,

He's been faithful to me,

He shows mercy and hears my heart's plea;

I have found Him to be true,

He's done all He said He'd do,

Yes, the Lord has been so faithful to me.

Faith is nothing more than taking God at His Word.  We can have confidence in God because He is faithful.  Our assurance is anchored in the faithfulness of our Lord.

Lay your anxieties down and find rest in the faithfulness of God.  

GETTING TO KNOW GOD:  HE IS SOVEREIGN

TEXT:  "But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased." 

- Psalm 115:3

For some time, people in America have been creating an image of God, based upon their own personal preferences and desires.  This ideology breaks the first two of God's Ten Commandments.  The end result is not God, but an idol that is powerless and worthless.

It is not shocking that talk-show hosts and entertainers are guilty of such idolatry.  What is shocking is the number of "ministers" who portray God in such ridiculous ways.  These days, some portray God as a grandfather-type figure who winks at sin and accepts everyone unconditionally.  Others consider God to be a bellhop who waits to serve us.  The humanization of God is nothing more than idolatry.  God is not a human.  He is divine. 

When a man takes his Bible and explains how God REALLY is, most get quickly offended.  Through the pages of the Bible we come to know God as He really is, not as a talk show host portrays Him to be.  In the end, we come to realize that the modern thought about God is nothing more than foolish thinking, contrived by the enemy to deceive and destroy souls.

As we get to know God, we learn about a major truth that most reject:  God is sovereign.  The word, "sovereignty," is defined as having absolute power or authority.  On the surface, I think most of us would agree that God is sovereign; after all, He is God.  The application of this truth bothers many people.  If God is sovereign, He takes orders from no one.  The prayers of many professing Christians resemble a lord ordering his servants.  We must understand that God is Lord, not us.  We do not order Him around; instead, we receive commands from Him.  Sadly, many church members consider obedience an option.  We cannot correctly call Him our Lord, when we refuse to obey Him.

Since God is sovereign, we must also face this fact:  God does what He wishes.  The Psalmist states this:  "But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased."  Modern "Christianity" teaches that God responds to situations the way we want Him to.  Furthermore, some "religious" teachers state that God uses the same logic we do.  Of course, they forget that our logic is flawed by sin.  Thus, most people are offended when God does not act the way they expect Him to. 

More than once, the Bible refers to God as a potter and mankind as the clay.  The imagery produced by this comparison is comforting to some and troubling to others.  Many are offended that mankind has no more influence over God than clay has over the potter.  Deep within us is a desire to be divine ourselves.  We want God to be in charge when problems get too great for us, but we want to be in control otherwise.  Despite our idolatrous hearts, the fact remains that God is the potter and we are the clay.  We did not create God.  He created us.  It is His design, not ours, that will be used.

Even more troubling for professing Christians are verses of Scripture like Romans 9:18: "So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills," and Romans 9:21:  "Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?"  These verses do not describe God like we want Him described.  But what do these verse teach?  These verses emphatically state that God is sovereign.

Sadly, many will attend church on Sunday morning, hoping that God will give them an injection of excitement or joy.  Instead, God desires that we come to His house to worship Him.  Worship is not about feeling warm and fuzzy inside.  Instead, worship is about kneeling before the Sovereign of the universe and giving Him the honor that is due. 

One of the common lies that people believe is that there are many roads to God.  Talk show hosts tell people that there is a Muslim way to God, a Christian way to God, a Buddhist way to God, etc.  This kind of heresy exalts every religion to the same level as God.  But there is just one God and just one way to Him.  Some believe that mankind is on the same level (or very close to the same level) as God.  This too is heresy.  God is sovereign.  He is not sharing power with the "prophet Muhammad," or anyone else --- including us.

Since God is sovereign, He is not accountable to us.  Some foolish people demand that God give them a reason for a calamity or some mysterious event.  There are many things I do not understand, but God is not required to give me an explanation.  When bad things happen, God will not answer to a congressional hearing or respond to a subpoena.  One day, we must answer to Him for our lives, but He will never have to answer to us.  I just know this:  God is sovereign.  He is good.  He knows what He is doing, even if I don't understand.  Since He is sovereign, He does not owe me a reason for anything He does.

God is sovereign.  For the Bible-believing Christian, this is comforting.  Despite the fleshly desire to exalt "self" to the position of divinity, we humbly recognize that God is Lord and we are His servants.  Thus, we find our honor in simply being servants of the Most High God.  We simply give our honor to Him.  He deserves our honor, worship and devotion for a number of reasons; primarily because He is God, the Sovereign of the universe. 

Since God is sovereign, He deserves and demands unconditional surrender and unfailing obedience, honor, and worship from us.  As God, He is worthy of nothing less.

Can you honestly call yourself a servant of the sovereign God?