We speak little of reverence anymore. It seems to be a missing link in approach to God and understanding about God. Reverence is showing respect and deference to God. It carries an idea of caution and expresses sacredness (another word we don't hear often).
When that large multitude of people stood at the base of that mountain that quaked, it was something they had not witnessed before as far as we know. From this scene before them thundered the voice of God. There was no form but only the sound of words. God declared to His people His covenant! God called His people to this place not only to receive instruction but to revere His name as long as they lived. This reverence and instruction was to be passed on to their children (Deut. 4:9-14).
Reverence for God and obedience to God's word work hand in hand. Each attitude and desire requires the other in order to make its way into our lives. When Solomon was drawing near to the end of his life, he summarized the duty of man in these words: "The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person." (Eccl. 12:13) Fearing God has reverence in the attitude and keeping His commandments is where the fear of the Lord, reverence for His name will take one. The devil tries to get man to separate the two concepts.
People can push the commandments of the Lord but have little reverence for His name. When that happens you have removed the power and substance of His words to form lives and boldness enters. All one has to do is look at the Scribes and Pharisees in the days of Jesus. They knew the Law! But that knowledge alone pushed them into self-reliance, self-confidence and standing on their own righteousness with little thought of reverence for God. They could argue and debate Scriptures but failed in being acceptable to God (Luke 18:9-14). They had no reverence for God or who He is!
Both reverence and obedience are needed. Reverence is what will allow us to defer ourselves under the mighty hand of God. That keeps people from launching out on their own thinking. Obedience to God's word is what gives expression to our reverence. Both together will lead one into a spiritually healthy life that will lead you all the way to God in the end.
Reverence for God and obedience to God's word work hand in hand. Each attitude and desire requires the other in order to make its way into our lives. When Solomon was drawing near to the end of his life, he summarized the duty of man in these words: "The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person." (Eccl. 12:13) Fearing God has reverence in the attitude and keeping His commandments is where the fear of the Lord, reverence for His name will take one. The devil tries to get man to separate the two concepts.
People can push the commandments of the Lord but have little reverence for His name. When that happens you have removed the power and substance of His words to form lives and boldness enters. All one has to do is look at the Scribes and Pharisees in the days of Jesus. They knew the Law! But that knowledge alone pushed them into self-reliance, self-confidence and standing on their own righteousness with little thought of reverence for God. They could argue and debate Scriptures but failed in being acceptable to God (Luke 18:9-14). They had no reverence for God or who He is!
Both reverence and obedience are needed. Reverence is what will allow us to defer ourselves under the mighty hand of God. That keeps people from launching out on their own thinking. Obedience to God's word is what gives expression to our reverence. Both together will lead one into a spiritually healthy life that will lead you all the way to God in the end.
No comments:
Post a Comment