Shaken But Not Stirred
Hebrews 12:28,29 So we should be thankful because we have a kingdom that cannot be shaken. And because we are thankful, we should worship God in a way that will please him. We should do this with respect and fear, because our God is like a fire that can destroy us.
“The fear of God” is perhaps the strangest notion you’ll ever find in the Bible. Seriously. But God is love; He sent His Son, Jesus, to die for us so that we could be forgiven. The fear of God? Really?
And because it’s so strange, many who believe in Jesus will ditch it completely. Oh, surely that’s an Old Testament concept. Hey, Jesus died for me. He took my punishment on my behalf. I don’t have to be afraid of God anymore.
And that’s true – up to a point. But there’s a line there that we should never step over.
Hebrews 12:28,29 So we should be thankful because we have a kingdom that cannot be shaken. And because we are thankful, we should worship God in a way that will please him. We should do this with respect and fear, because our God is like a fire that can destroy us.
God’s power is immense. In fact, it’s infinite. That’s why, come what may, the one who puts all their eggs in one basket by trusting in what Jesus has done for them is part of a kingdom that cannot be shaken. Praise God. Worship Him. Thank Him. Through nothing that we could do for ourselves, through Christ’s sacrifice on that cross, He saved us. But how then should we worship Him?
In a way that pleases Him, with respect and fear, because our God is like a fire that can destroy us.
The idea of respecting and fearing God doesn’t sit all that well alongside our 21st century ideals of comfort and success. But when we start living out this notion that God is here to pander to my wants, we’ve completely lost the plot.
That’s God’s Word. Fresh … for you … today.
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