Scripture
28Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, 29for our “God is a consuming fire.”
Hebrews 12:28-29
Observation
The author of Hebrews harkens back to Mt. Sinai and the smoke, and the fire, the lightning and thunder. The people were reminded of how they were so afraid of this consuming fire that they elected to keep their distance and chose Moses to be the one who would risk his life in the hands of a holy God. Fast forward to Jesus who has taken the wrath we deserved upon Himself so that all who are forgiven and believe could approach the throne of grace with boldness. Rather than the consuming fire of God being a fearful thing, through grace it’s a wondrous thing. Our sin has been burned up and what remains is unshakable, consecrated, and holy. No wonder the author says “let us be thankful” instead of “let us be fearful”. The only appropriate response to the God who would send His own Son to die in our place is thankfulness, worship, reverence and awe. We don’t ever want to take for granted what Christ has done. We want to live our lives in a posture of worship for when we are consumed by Him we won’t be consumed by the shakable things of this world. When aren’t consumed by our pursuit of Christ we will be consumed by every other temporary thing this world holds dear.
Application
In the middle of final preparations for his wedding to Kehau next week (WOW, I can’t believe I just wrote that) Elijah was sharing a quote from a new book he’s reading. It’s called “Killer Church” by Nathan Finochio and it lines up with what Hebrews is telling us. “The primary mission of the church is to worship God first and foremost. It’s not justice, it’s not education, it’s not to evangelize, it’s not to equip the saints, it’s not toe Influence the world- all of these things are certainly part of the mission the church, but they are not the first and primary mission of the church. This is where things have gone sideways for so many Christians and what continues to cause confusion around the church and it’s relationship to God. The Westminster Catechism reads: What is the chief end of man? The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.” The answer to the essential question of our existence is that we have been made to worship God! What does this look like in real time? Well, speaking of Kehau and Elijah they are both worshippers. In fact, Kehau is one of the most anointed worship leaders I’ve ever heard and Elijah David’s very name is “worshipping warrior”. Be that as it may, it’s still very easy to forget our true purpose and position of worship when life is stressful. A few weeks ago they still had not found a place to rent once they were married and this was weighing on them heavily. With one dead end after another and the extreme scarcity of rentals in the area things were looking bleak. Yet, as stood behind them during a worship service they both raised their hands simultaneously and surrendered to God’s will. This has been the stance they’ve taken with their relationship from the beginning. They chose to worship an unshakable God in the middle of a shaky situation. They chose to thank God before the answer came. They chose to be consumed by their love of God rather than the all-consuming worries of uncertainty. Whether married or not, this is how we stand, this is why we exist- to worship God and to be consumed in our pursuit of His presence. By the way, Elijah and Kehau are moving furniture into their place tomorrow. God is so Good!
Prayer
Like the burning bush that was on fire but not consumed before Moses, like the tongues of fire that filled the upper room in Acts 2 anointing Your people to speak of Your wonders to the nations, I want to return to my primary purpose. I want to be one who wakes up every day to worship You and enjoy You more. Every point of worry and anxiety is a place where I’m not trusting You, a place where I’m not worshipping You, a place where I’m being consumed by a focus other than You. I repent for not picking up my guitar except to prepare for a worship set. This is something You and have shared that I have been neglecting. In fact, when I was told I would not recover from Covid Double Pneumonia last year the word You spoke to my heart in that dark night of the soul was, “you have more songs to sing, pray for a five day miracle.” You didn’t heal me to be consumed by the worries of this world, but rather by Your presence in every situation. Let a new song rise in the face of my fears! I exist to worship You!
"All the nations you have made shall come and worship before you, O Lord, and shall glorify your name." Psalm 86:9
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