Welcome to the final week of our summer series, meditating on Hebrews 12:28-29.
In July and August we pondered gratitude, and reverence, and today we close our summer series with awe, and false either/or scenarios; asking the LORD to refresh us in our notions of each, that we would abide in Him. We will look not only at our summer passage, but at what Scripture teaches concerning Our God, the Consuming Fire, to whom we render this “acceptable service.” My prayer has been that this series will exalt our God, and fan to flame that spark in our souls, so as to burn with His love, His knowledge, His strength and perseverance.
Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; for our God is a consuming fire.
This summer was full of reminders of just how shakable this world I live in is, and will remain so until Jesus returns. He is shaking, and the things that are not eternal will be subject to ruin. In this midst of all this shake-up, our Rock is steadfast, and will lead His people continually (and further) into His love and steadfastness. Plans fail. Contracts are broken. Opportunities are yanked out from under you. Relationships fail, especially as therapists tell people to find a new chosen group and cold-shoulder your family and friends, and as this generation follows the generation before with prioritizing government schools, and career paths, and keeping up with the Jones’, all of which disintegrate organic connections to people, communities, and to the earth we are to steward.
Amidst so many situations that were clearly a shaking–I was continually reminded of God’s Providence, His Sovereignty, His Compassions that never fail, my hope and my eternal inheritance, the value of faithfulness, and how intimately God shepherds His people. I sat down to write this final post several weeks ago, and could not, after hearing of the death of my pastor.
Before I get to today’s topic, I want to let the world know how thankful I am that for so many years I had a pastor who valued women–who took seriously the call to disciple us, so that we would be women filled with the knowledge of our God in the face of Jesus Christ (see 2 Cor 4), and would be able to teach what is good (Titus 2). He wanted the women in our church to be like Mary, whom Jesus praised as a disciple.
40 But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” 41 But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, 42 but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:40-42
Where was Mary when Jesus spoke these words? Sitting at Jesus’ feet, with the men, learning. Listening. Gleaning all she could, storing it up in her heart, being filled with His words so as to abide in them. An example to all those who were there, and to all who read Scripture: what is the good portion? Will you chose it? Will you hinder some, telling them to leave it to the elders and get yourself back into the kitchen, help Martha prepare the church potluck while us men abide in these words of eternal life? Not my pastor! He trained up women. He checked in on me to make sure I was learning and studying. He gave me books, recommended books; and we discussed theology and doctrine. He did not want ‘women’s ministry’ to be only about raising up future Marthas, and I am glad he considered women teachable, and capable fellow workers (see Romans 16:3).
Acceptable Awe, or Not…
Back to our summer series, and offering up to our God an acceptable service with awe. Awe. Not all of God’s creation is capable of awe, this is for those created in His image. Today we ponder how full orbed life in Christ includes our ‘affections’ or emotions, but is deeper than merely an emotional response to a circumstance. What is ‘awe’? First, what is it not:
Not “feelings…nothing more than feelings…” rooted in process theology and Hegelian philosophy. It is not “I come to the garden alone, while the dew is still on the roses…and the joy we share…none other has ever known.” This hymn will lead you far away from the truth of the Gospel. I am so thankful Dr. Morrison addressed this while I pursued my MA in Philosophical Theology many moons ago. All of God’s people are corporately called to share in His joy. Not some unique mystical experience apart from what the Word outlines, not some ‘just me and Him’ experience that no one else will ever experience. If you are in union with Christ, then He has brought you into His Body, the Church; He has not isolated you in your own version of Eden. We have something better than Eden. (If you haven’t read that book by Nancy Guthrie, put it on your TBR list!)
Mystical, yet not mysticism. It is neither explained by science, nor contrary to it. It is not merely rooted in the operations of your brain, nor energy, nor any other visible or invisible creation. The awe spoken of in Hebrews 12 (as well as other Scriptural passages) is of grace, rooted in the Holy Spirit’s work of regeneration. We all have desires running amok, but when the Spirit gives you a heart to know the One True Living God, your desires are reoriented; He transforms, renews, and gives you a sense of true awe.
And as many Puritans taught, The Holy Spirit’s sanctifying work includes the renovation of our hearts–a topic we will return to many times over this next year, especially in the teachings of both
John Owen and John Flavel.
You cannot be in awe of God if you do not know Him, yet you can have a zeal that is not in accordance with knowledge. Do not mistake zeal for awe (though not all zeal is bad, there is a Christlike zeal). You cannot know Him apart from His self-revelation. You can begin to notice that all of creation displays His awesome thoughts and deeds–and end up worshipping creation, or joining in false religions that foster this pantheism (especially seen in New Age thought).
There are so many “not this” rabbit holes, but here I stop. I want rather to focus on encouraging us who know the LORD, and share in His Life, and in His Joy, to ponder what awe really is.
Awe, in light of the Consuming Fire
Let us always remember that we can only approach God because of the work of Christ on the cross on our behalf. We approach boldly because He has made us His own. We approach through Christ, not by any work of ours but by the Spirit’s regeneration in applying the atonement to us. We draw near to the throne of grace, ensured of finding mercy and grace, knowing He does not change–and therefore we are not consumed, Christ has already taken the fire for us.
In Awe, based on what you know. As you see His plan of redemption worked out in Scripture, as you study God’s various attributes, as You see His unfailing love and other unchanging character qualities, you will be in awe, drawn to worship, to revere, to adore. You will behold His radiance–though if we had a vision of it as the apostle John did we would fall down as though dead.
In Christ, we are made alive, and awakened to a life of awe. We see God for Who He is, though as through a glass dimly; we recognize His miracles for what they are, we see and marvel, we worship, we declare Him to be awesome. We exult in Him, we are lifted up as we exalt Him, magnifying Him. Prior to knowing Him, we were deceived, and enslaved to various lusts (or disordered, disproportionate loves) and passions (see Titus 3). In Christ we are freed, and our affections are now shaped by what is truly good and beautiful, and our passions are becoming conformed to His the more we gaze upon Him, walk with Him, heed His Word, abide in Him.
No false either/or
Awe is not “merely rational” nor “merely emotional” for God does not separate our inner man into parts the way Greek stoic philosophy, Freudian thought, and modern therapeutic culture do. God tells us to love Him with our whole being, not with just a particular puzzle piece of our being.
We approach God in awe, with hearts set free by His truth and inflamed with His love, truly marveling at His greatness. We submit to Him in awe, knowing He is greater than any foe we face, any circumstance we are in, any obstacle we wish to surmount, any doubt or fear vying for control of our thoughts, anything contrary to His Sovereignty. We serve Him, and His Kingdom, in awe.
Good for Your Soul
Awe will foster growth in Christlike wholeness, and integration; even in a world where the evil one seeks to destroy and disintegrate and keep us aloof and disenfranchised. When the gospel was preached shortly after Jesus’ resurrection and ascension, hearing of His work on the cross and of the need to repent, those who were saved and who joined the body of believers “kept feeling a sense of awe” (Acts 2:43). Notice the connection to the Truth being preached? Read that whole chapter, and also note their continual devotion to the apostles teaching and to fellowship with believers, and from this grew a continual sense of awe.
Rather than having a focus on emotivism, rationalism, or a pendulum swing between the two, set your mind on Him who properly orients our delights and desires and energies and ambitions. Worship the LORD in the splendor of His holiness! “O Come let us adore Him!”
For further meditation:
How is awe related to treating God as holy? (Numbers 20:12-13; Deuteronomy 32:51)
How is Malachi 2 describing awe, and the lack of awe?
How does awe relate to fear and trembling? Or to properly recognizing the glory of God?
Ponder these passages:
Deuteronomy 7:21, 10:17 & 21, 28:58
Nehemiah 1:5, 4:14, 9:32
Psalms 22:23, 33:8, 45:4, 65:8, 66:3-5, 68:35, 111:9, 119:161
Malachi 2:5
Matthew 9:8
Acts 2:43
Pray with Hannah and consider reading here:
Then Hannah prayed and said,
“My heart exults in the Lord;
My horn is exalted in the Lord,
My mouth speaks boldly against my enemies,
Because I rejoice in Your salvation.“There is no one holy like the Lord,
Indeed, there is no one besides You,
Nor is there any rock like our God.“Boast no more so very proudly,
Do not let arrogance come out of your mouth;
For the Lord is a God of knowledge,
And with Him actions are weighed.“The bows of the mighty are shattered,
But the feeble gird on strength.1 Samuel 2:1-4
Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash