“Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our ‘God is a consuming fire’. Hebrews 12:28-29
Just before this verse the author talks about Mount Zion in the Old Testament. When God came down to meet with Moses on the mountain, the whole mountain was on fire. Along with the fire there was thunder and lightning and the ground was shaking. None of the people were allowed to even touch the mountain during that time. Even Moses had trembled with fear of going before God. He knew that God was a Holy God and a consuming fire.
How is God a consuming fire? He burns up sin. He is against all who sin against Him. God will burn out impurities and immoralities in your life. God has not changed, He is still a consuming fire. The difference is that now you are coming to a heavenly kingdom that cannot be shaken like the mountain was.
In the Old Testament, Moses was invited by God to see Him on a physical mountain. That mountain was temporary. Today you are invited by God to see Him at His throne in heaven. Heaven is not physical and cannot be shaken. Now you are invited into a greater place. With this in mind the author tells you to be thankful and worship God acceptably with reverence and awe.
What are you to be thankful for? You must be thankful that God is accepting you; that He is calling you to be with Him; and that He loves you. With all of this you must worship Him with a grateful heart. Your worship must recognize that God is the ultimate number one king of all the universe. Your worship must not be just something you do, only going through the motions. It must be on purpose because God deserves it. It must be focused on God and on Him alone. Worship must be done with a certain amount of fear, because God is Holy and a consuming fire and He has all rights to destroy you for the sins you have done.
Today you can go before God directly because of Jesus. Jesus took away all your sins. God will no longer burn you up because of sin if you have confessed your sins and believed in Jesus. Give your thanks to God for who He is and what He has done for you. Worship God with extreme reverence and awe. Even though God will not destroy you, you must know that He has the ability and right to do so.
I pray that today God will give you a vision of how great He is; that God will give you a vision of His kingdom; that God will help you in learning to worship Him in the correct manner with reverence and awe; that God will consume all the sins in your life; and that God will set you on fire for Him.
That’s what I want: “to be on fire for Him.” Thank you, and God bless you.
Amen Scott! Stay in His Word and do as His Word says and directs you and you will be on fire for Him.