November 14th, 2023
This week, I want to share what has been on my heart about revering God’s presence. I’ve been overwhelmed the past few days with the magnificence of God. There is beauty in intimacy with our Creator. He loves us with everlasting love. He cares about every aspect of our lives. He knows the number of hairs on our head. He has called us friends and when He trusts us, we get to know His secrets. We have to remember, though, that God isn’t just our friend, or the greatness of that reality loses its weight. Familiarity does breed contempt. Reverence is defined as “deep respect or honor.” This concept may be easier for someone with a different cultural context to understand because western society doesn’t emphasize honor the way that many others do. However, that doesn’t change its importance for us, as believers!
Hebrews 12:28-29 says,
“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.”
Our God is a consuming fire.
When Isaiah saw the Father in His glory, he said “woe is me, for I am unclean” (Isaiah 6:5). John had lived with Jesus for years, but he didn’t give Jesus a fist bump when he saw Him on the isle of Patmos in His glory. When John saw Jesus with His face shining like the sun, he fell at His feet like a dead man (Revelation 1:17). When Paul encountered the glory of God, he fell on his face and was blinded for days (Acts 9). He was later given a vision of heaven and said he “heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter” (1 Corinthians 12:4).
Isaiah 57:15 says,
‘For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.’
God has chosen in His goodness to dwell in men’s heart by the mystery of Christ’s atonement. However, He has not lost any of His glory, authority, or majesty by dwelling in us. Jesus was still the King when He washed the feet of His disciples. In His love and humility, He’s made a way for us to be seated with Him in heavenly places. God didn’t lower Himself to sit with us in darkness. Instead, He made provision for us to come into the light, by His grace.
Acts 7:47-49 says,
‘Yet the Most High does not dwell in houses made by hands, as the prophet says, “‘Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. What kind of house will you build for me, says the Lord, or what is the place of my rest?”’
We are created, imperfect beings, inhabited by the One who inhabits eternity. He’s not just a king. He’s the King. How would you behave if you had an audience with an earthly king? Would you not carefully consider how to dress, how to stand, when to bow, and what to say? Yet, so often, we come into the presence of the King of kings nonchalantly. We say what we came to say, stay as long as we want, and dismiss ourselves. Is that the honor a King is due?
In the book of Malachi, God rebuked His people for bringing lame sacrifices. They were bringing animals that were blemished, offering God that which meant nothing to them.
Malachi 1:6-8 says,
“A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then I am a father, where is my honor? And if I am a master, where is my fear? says the LORD of hosts to you, O priests, who despise my name. But you say, ‘How have we despised your name?’ By offering polluted food upon my altar. But you say, ‘How have we polluted you?’ By saying that the LORD'S table may be despised. When you offer blind animals in sacrifice, is that not evil? And when you offer those that are lame or sick, is that not evil? Present that to your governor; will he accept you or show you favor? says the LORD of hosts.”
A few verses later, God finishes his rebuke saying,
“I am a great King, says the LORD of hosts, and my name will be feared among the nations.” (Malachi 1:14)
Micah 6:6 and 8 says,
“With what shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before God on high? He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
God has made a way for us to come as close to Him as we desire. Honoring the presence of God doesn’t mean that we distance ourselves. Hebrews 4:16 says,
“Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
Reverence isn’t fear; it’s awe that detains us in the presence of the King. It’s the honor and respect that captivates us in His presence. If we don’t revere His presence, have we ever really seen Him? In Ephesians 1:15-23, Paul prayed that the eyes of the believers would be enlightened to know the hope to which He’d called them; the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and the immeasurable greatness of His power toward those who believe. It’s a powerful prayer that we should pray for ourselves!
If we have a revelation of who He is and who we are in Him, reverence will be our natural response. When we understand that we’re seated with the King, we won’t fight battles He’s already won. We have access to the One who inhabits eternity, and He has chosen us. He doesn’t tolerate us. He isn’t just willing to care for us. He desires to care for us so much that He gave everything. You were worth everything to Him. Is He worth everything to you? The Word of God is heaven’s cry that we would lay it all down to know Him. His presence is worth it all. He’s the King and you have the privilege of having something the King desires. You have the honor of possessing something He gave everything to receive. It’s you. As Paul said in Romans 12:1,
“I appeal to you therefore, by the mercies of God, to present yourself as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.”
Hebrews 12:28-29 says,
“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.”
Our God is a consuming fire.
When Isaiah saw the Father in His glory, he said “woe is me, for I am unclean” (Isaiah 6:5). John had lived with Jesus for years, but he didn’t give Jesus a fist bump when he saw Him on the isle of Patmos in His glory. When John saw Jesus with His face shining like the sun, he fell at His feet like a dead man (Revelation 1:17). When Paul encountered the glory of God, he fell on his face and was blinded for days (Acts 9). He was later given a vision of heaven and said he “heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter” (1 Corinthians 12:4).
Isaiah 57:15 says,
‘For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.’
God has chosen in His goodness to dwell in men’s heart by the mystery of Christ’s atonement. However, He has not lost any of His glory, authority, or majesty by dwelling in us. Jesus was still the King when He washed the feet of His disciples. In His love and humility, He’s made a way for us to be seated with Him in heavenly places. God didn’t lower Himself to sit with us in darkness. Instead, He made provision for us to come into the light, by His grace.
Acts 7:47-49 says,
‘Yet the Most High does not dwell in houses made by hands, as the prophet says, “‘Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. What kind of house will you build for me, says the Lord, or what is the place of my rest?”’
We are created, imperfect beings, inhabited by the One who inhabits eternity. He’s not just a king. He’s the King. How would you behave if you had an audience with an earthly king? Would you not carefully consider how to dress, how to stand, when to bow, and what to say? Yet, so often, we come into the presence of the King of kings nonchalantly. We say what we came to say, stay as long as we want, and dismiss ourselves. Is that the honor a King is due?
In the book of Malachi, God rebuked His people for bringing lame sacrifices. They were bringing animals that were blemished, offering God that which meant nothing to them.
Malachi 1:6-8 says,
“A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then I am a father, where is my honor? And if I am a master, where is my fear? says the LORD of hosts to you, O priests, who despise my name. But you say, ‘How have we despised your name?’ By offering polluted food upon my altar. But you say, ‘How have we polluted you?’ By saying that the LORD'S table may be despised. When you offer blind animals in sacrifice, is that not evil? And when you offer those that are lame or sick, is that not evil? Present that to your governor; will he accept you or show you favor? says the LORD of hosts.”
A few verses later, God finishes his rebuke saying,
“I am a great King, says the LORD of hosts, and my name will be feared among the nations.” (Malachi 1:14)
Micah 6:6 and 8 says,
“With what shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before God on high? He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
God has made a way for us to come as close to Him as we desire. Honoring the presence of God doesn’t mean that we distance ourselves. Hebrews 4:16 says,
“Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
Reverence isn’t fear; it’s awe that detains us in the presence of the King. It’s the honor and respect that captivates us in His presence. If we don’t revere His presence, have we ever really seen Him? In Ephesians 1:15-23, Paul prayed that the eyes of the believers would be enlightened to know the hope to which He’d called them; the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and the immeasurable greatness of His power toward those who believe. It’s a powerful prayer that we should pray for ourselves!
If we have a revelation of who He is and who we are in Him, reverence will be our natural response. When we understand that we’re seated with the King, we won’t fight battles He’s already won. We have access to the One who inhabits eternity, and He has chosen us. He doesn’t tolerate us. He isn’t just willing to care for us. He desires to care for us so much that He gave everything. You were worth everything to Him. Is He worth everything to you? The Word of God is heaven’s cry that we would lay it all down to know Him. His presence is worth it all. He’s the King and you have the privilege of having something the King desires. You have the honor of possessing something He gave everything to receive. It’s you. As Paul said in Romans 12:1,
“I appeal to you therefore, by the mercies of God, to present yourself as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.”
1 Comment
What a wonderful daily devotional for today n everyday he is the king