July 15, 2021: SOAP #4242:  Isaiah 22-24; Hebrews 12

SCRIPTURE:  Hebrews (NIV) 12:28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, 29 for our “God is a consuming fire.”

OBSERVATION: The writer of Hebrews has just expressed the great need for reverential fear by the Israelites who were at Mount Sinai and received the Law and the method of worship within the tabernacle Moses built.  It was a frightful thing.  On penalty of death, no one could step on the mountain as God gave the Law to Moses. 

God’s voice shook the earth when the Law was given, but there is a time coming when God’s voice will shake both the earth and the heavens!  If a reverent fear was needed at Mount Sinai, how much more should we worship our Holy God with fear and great respect!  When the earth and heavens shake, how privileged we are to be in a kingdom that cannot be shaken!

APPLICATION:  The USA recently celebrated our Independence Day.  It is customary to celebrate with various fireworks.  There are simple burning sparklers that can be held in our hand and waved in the dark of the night while they burn away the glistening, glowing fire.  They do not explode, just sparkle as they burn for a minute or two.  At the other extreme of fireworks are the cannons that shoot a shell loudly into the night sky.  At the height of its flight, it bursts with a mighty sound and shoots out other firecrackers that also explode and fill the night with sound and color. 

In reading the above chapter, I hear the Holy Spirit saying that we often like to consider Jesus as one of the sparklers we wave in the darkness of the night.  But really, Jesus is as one of the cannons that light up the darkness and awaken anyone asleep.  He should be treated with reverential fear!  

PRAYER:  Jesus, you are my Loving Shepherd.  Forgive me for not remembering that you are as holy as you are loving.  May I worship you “acceptably with reverence and awe.”  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!