Daily Dose of the Word of God - Hebrews 12: 18-29

Erin Pacheco, Director of Worship

Transcript

Erin Pacheco  0:09 

Welcome to Elmhurst CRC’s Daily Dose of the Word of God. It’s Friday, October 25, and Sunday is coming! I’m Erin Pacheco. Today’s reading is from Hebrews 12:18-29. I’ll be reading from the New Living Translation. I love how the author of Hebrews likens Israel’s Old Testament encounter with God at Mt Sinai to our encounter with God in Jesus Christ.

Erin Pacheco  0:39 

You have not come to a physical mountain,[h] to a place of flaming fire, darkness, gloom, and whirlwind, as the Israelites did at Mount Sinai. For they heard an awesome trumpet blast and a voice so terrible that they begged God to stop speaking.They staggered back under God’s command: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death.” Moses himself was so frightened at the sight that he said, “I am terrified and trembling.” No, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to countless thousands of angels in a joyful gathering. You have come to the assembly of God’s firstborn children, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God himself, who is the judge over all things. You have come to the spirits of the righteous ones in heaven who have now been made perfect. You have come to Jesus, the one who mediates the new covenant between God and people, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks of forgiveness instead of crying out for vengeance like the blood of Abel. Be careful that you do not refuse to listen to the One who is speaking. For if the people of Israel did not escape when they refused to listen to Moses, the earthly messenger, we will certainly not escape if we reject the One who speaks to us from heaven! When God spoke from Mount Sinai his voice shook the earth, but now he makes another promise: “Once again I will shake not only the earth but the heavens also.” This means that all of creation will be shaken and removed, so that only unshakable things will remain. Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe. For our God is a devouring fire.

Erin Pacheco  2:46 

In the Chronicles of Narnia books, C.S. Lewis introduces Aslan, the great lion, who in many ways is a lot like Jesus. When the children first hear about Aslan, they are frightened and one of them asks if he is safe. “”Course he’s not safe,” their friend responds. “But he is good. He’s the King.” God is not safe. God is the holy, powerful, righteous, creator and judge of all. But God is also deeply loving and generous and good. And he’s the King. Which is why the book of Proverbs says the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. In other words, the good life, the beautiful life, a life that works because it’s aligned with the deep structures of the universe that God has made, begins with reverence for God. With holy fear and awe. An encounter with a God so powerful that it puts our old fears in perspective — because we know that neither death nor life nor angels nor demons nor any power can separate us from his mighty love for us – and so we have the courage to boldly step out in faith and obedience.  What are you afraid of?  What might it look like to replace those fears with the fear of the Lord? Not being scared of God, but choosing to begin with reverence for God’s greatness and trust in his goodness.

Erin Pacheco  4:41  

Let’s pray. Holy God, Holy and mighty, holy immortal one, have mercy on us. For it’s only by your mercy that we come before your throne. As we worship this Sunday, we ask for a fresh vision of your greatness and goodness, that we may live a life of wisdom. Amen