The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Exodus 3:5,
"'Do not come any closer,' God said. 'Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.'"
Paul tells us about the love God has for us, "God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8. And, the writer of Hebrews tells us to approach God with confidence, "Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." Hebrews 4:16.
However, as we see in this passage where God tells Moses to take off his sandals because the ground was holy (do to God's presence), there is a reverence and a fear of God that is his due from us and provides for us a healthy relationship with him.
I'm not at all sure about this thinking that God is our lovey-dovey daddy that we feel only warm fuzzies while approaching, even though we might think of him in terms of "Abba, father", Romans 8:15. I'm not so sure about all the trite toothpaste-jingle "worship songs" that passes for "acceptable worship" these days that may fail to recognize his proper place in our lives.
I am reminded of Paul's exhortation, "Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose." Philippians 2:12-13. I am also reminded of the words of the writer of Hebrews, "Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our 'God is a consuming fire.'" Hebrews 12:28-29.
"'Do not come any closer,' God said. 'Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.'"
Paul tells us about the love God has for us, "God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8. And, the writer of Hebrews tells us to approach God with confidence, "Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." Hebrews 4:16.
However, as we see in this passage where God tells Moses to take off his sandals because the ground was holy (do to God's presence), there is a reverence and a fear of God that is his due from us and provides for us a healthy relationship with him.
I'm not at all sure about this thinking that God is our lovey-dovey daddy that we feel only warm fuzzies while approaching, even though we might think of him in terms of "Abba, father", Romans 8:15. I'm not so sure about all the trite toothpaste-jingle "worship songs" that passes for "acceptable worship" these days that may fail to recognize his proper place in our lives.
I am reminded of Paul's exhortation, "Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose." Philippians 2:12-13. I am also reminded of the words of the writer of Hebrews, "Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our 'God is a consuming fire.'" Hebrews 12:28-29.
Just a little balance here...
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know. A blog with all my posts can be found here: http://worshipfortoday.blogspot.com/
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know. A blog with all my posts can be found here: http://worshipfortoday.blogspot.com/
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