"You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm; to a trumpet blast or to such a voice speaking words that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them....But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the Living God, the heavenly Jerusalem....You have come to...Jesus the Mediator of a new covenant....Therefore, since we are receiving a Kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably ('in a well-pleasing way') with reverence and awe.... " (From Hebrews 12, NIV)
Much of mankind, right up through the Middle Ages, even up to today, has always had a "fear of the gods." It was not fear of God, but rather dread of God, some sort of god which was unknowable.
Even though the Bible teaches, "I know it will be well with those who fear God," all who are in Jesus Christ, and we in Jesus, have the glorious promise/invitation of Hebrews 10, "Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the Blood of Jesus,..let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings...." No one is "worthy" to, "....come to Mount Zion.., the Heavenly Jerusalem...." Only in and through the Blood of Jesus is one worthy, and only in and through the Blood of Jesus can one, "worship ('serve') God acceptably...."
As we worship, pray, do anything today, we are called to live in the reality that, "we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken,.." that we have been invited in the Blood of Jesus Christ to a Glorious life in the Godhead, "by a new and living way opened to us through the curtain, that is, His Body...." In Jesus Christ, "Old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." No one has to live in fear, dread, or hopelessness. In Jesus Christ, "darkness, gloom, and storm," become Light, Rejoicing, and Peace, life in, "a Kingdom that cannot be shaken."
Father, in Jesus' Name, I thank You so much for what You have dispelled, and what You have opened. Amen.
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Read about "The New Axis of Evil," at: jhs58.blogspot.com
When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
Hebrews 12:2
Hebrews 12:2
