Etiquette
The words ‘Honorable’, ‘Your Excellency’, ‘Reverend’ and others like these are not words that I use every day. For this reason I could easily forget how to apply the rules of etiquette required if I ever get to address a leader. However, if I know in advance that I am going to meet a leader, it would be irresponsible of me not to learn about the right way to address such a leader.
Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. – Hebrews 4:16
We can approach God with confidence. However, this does not mean that we can address Him without reverence or without recognizing His Majesty.
God is our Father
In the increasingly consumerist society we live in, it is expected for parents to give their children everything they ask for. For this reason we may be tempted to try to approach God in the same way. We cannot manipulate God as children manipulate their parents. He is not any father: He is the Heavenly Father. God does not give us what we ask, but what we need: be it a blessing, a trial, or discipline (Hebrews 12: 6-8).
Jesus is our Lord
Jesus’s sacrifice on the cross is the greatest service we’ve ever received. However, this does not entitle us to treat Jesus as if he were our servant. He is the Lord and we are his servants. We cannot forget that we need to confess Him as Lord in order to receive the gift of salvation (Romans 10: 9-10).
We must recognize that our sin is too big in relation to the holiness of God. There is no rule of etiquette that can help us to overcome this condition. We must recognize that our Father requires us to live a holy life in obedience to the will of Jesus as our Lord (1 Peter 1:16, Hebrews 12:14).
Let us draw near to God with confidence, but without losing the perspective of whom He is and who we are.
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