Hebrews 12:28-29 (ESV): Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, 29 for our God is a consuming fire.
Really needed to read and meditate on these verses today. And, in reading these verses the first thing we need to notice is that the writer has shifted to the present tenses. This is important because that makes theses verses applicable to us today. The writer isn’t writing about a past event that has no bearing on today. Theses verses very much have a bearing on today.
The writer of Hebrews begins his conclusion to Chapter 12 with the word, therefore. This is important because he is referring back to what he has already written in particular verse 24 where he points to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant. That covenant relation becomes reality when we receive the kingdom that is the rule of Christ in our lives. Christ’s kingdom is a kingdom of peace, not chaos. The world is ruled by chaos, but not Christ’s kingdom.
Christ’s kingdom is unshakable, that means it it is eternal and we can never be taken from it and it will never be taken from us. This is awesome blessing of being in relationship with Christ.
The writer of Hebrews encourages us to live a life of thankfulness and worship. As Kistemaker writes: “Giving thanks in word and deed and worshiping God are two sides of the same coin.” Nor is worship is not limited to a formal worship service on Sunday, but a daily act of reverence and awe.
And the reason for worshiping and serving God with reverence and awe is expressed in verse 29: for our God is a consuming fire. These words were spoken by Moses when he warned the Israelites not to serve idols. Anything we put before God is an idol to include our spouse, children, grandchildren, job, money or politics.
Let’s pray:
Oh, God,
I am so very, very, grateful that You sent Your Only Begotten to reconcile into a relationship with You. That through Him I am a citizen of Your Kingdom of Peace. A kingdom that is unshakable. Eternal.
Lord, we live a world of chaos where much is shaken. Thank you for Your peace. May the words of my mouth and mediation of my heart be acceptable to You.
Amen.
Leave a Reply