“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, for our God is a consuming fire.” – Hebrews 12:28-29
I did something recently that would make theologians, biblical scholars, and apologetics alike shake their heads at me in disapproval. Feeling overwhelmed with different areas in my life causing stress, I started praying and decided I needed to read scripture.
I ran and grabbed my Bible and asked God to speak to me while I opened up to a random page. Sure, it may have been a little charismatic but God had spoken to me plenty of times this way and I knew He works in mysterious ways (and I was feeling overwhelmed and desperate).
The page opened to Hebrews 12 and 13, where numerous verses were underlined and some also starred. My eyes hit the first verse I saw, underlined and boxed; a verse that I had committed to memory recently due to its significance in my life. The words brought so much truth to my starving soul.
- “Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken.” This earth is not my home. My stress and anxiety were stemming from huge life decisions and comparing my path to others that seemed to be running seamlessly. My eyes were set on earth, instead of the God who created the earth and who would eventually take me home to be with Him in eternity one day. How comforting is that? Hebrews 13:5-6 says, “Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’ So we can confidently say, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not fear: what can man do to me?”
- “Let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe” What is acceptable worship to God? God wants our worship to Him to be genuine, full of godly fear and awe. Acceptable worship to God is centered around His will. When we put Him at the center of our lives, work, words, attitude, and action ultimately giving Him glory. That kind of worship is God-centered and well-pleasing.
- “For our God is a consuming fire.” God’s love is consuming and overwhelming. It overtakes every part of our lives when we truly experience His love. But His wrath towards sin is consuming as well, for would you consider a judge just if he did not punish those guilty? However, we have an advocator, Jesus, on our behalf (1 John 1). He paid the penalty for our sin and now those who trust in Him are considered freed. This is the Gospel! This is the good news that brings comfort to my heart whenever I’m overwhelmed with my trials and struggles.
Friends, if you are overwhelmed and struggling with life’s demands, remember eternity! Turn, like Jehoshaphat, to God. Run freely to His arms for refuge, let His love heal your wounds, and let Him strengthen you to run the race set out before you.
**Today’s inspiration was written by Melody Abboud – you can follow her at www.mywanderingheartblog.com
