“Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear” Hebrews 12:28. We have the hope of a future kingdom, and the first fruits of it right now through the Holy Spirit! This verse coming to us following closely with the theme of 4:1, the writer has been recalling the giving of the law at Mount Sinai where the people saw the awesome revelation of God’s glory and power, yet through doubt and rebellion they failed to enter the rest of Canaan, suffering severe punishment instead. Hence the caution flag and the warning to any whose faith is growing weak and who may be contemplating turning away from Christ; receiving grace let us “serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.” The ESV reads “Therefore 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”. If it were not possible to turn away from Christ after walking with Him for a while and then miss out on this treasured kingdom it would be unnecessary for the Scripture to issue such warnings, but the fact that it is a repeated warning is indicative of its extreme importance! Remember the very next verse in Hebrews 12, verse 29, says “For our God is a consuming fire.” Hebrews 12:12 says, “Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees.” Ingesting the Word of God is such a mighty force to do this very thing as Job 4:4 so aptly points out, “Your words have upheld him who was stumbling, And you have strengthened the feeble knees;” this seems to be speaking of Job, but without question it is applicable to God who upholds and strengthens And what does Revelation 3:2 say? “Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die…” (cf. 1 Samuel 30:6). Oh, having received God’s grace and the promise of His kingdom, let us always be purposed to serve Him “acceptably with reverence and godly fear”.
Walking with God
By Rose Hill
We must serve God with Godly fear,
And walk in His ways year after year.
By getting strength from His word and in it live,
We are getting the kingdom that He wants to give.
Scripture quotations are from the New King James Version copyright …1982 by Thomas Nelson Co. used by permission