Image from biblia.com
Hear Here: http://bit.ly/2Mu1mnd
18 You have not come to something that can be touched, a blazing fire, and darkness, and gloom, and a tempest, 19 and the sound of a trumpet, and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that not another word be spoken to them. 20 (For they could not endure the order that was given, “If even an animal touches the mountain, it shall be stoned to death.” 21 Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I tremble with fear.”) 22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, 23 and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. 25 See that you do not refuse the one who is speaking; for if they did not escape when they refused the one who warned them on earth, how much less will we escape if we reject the one who warns from heaven! 26 At that time his voice shook the earth; but now he has promised, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heaven.” 27 This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of what is shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us give thanks, by which we offer to God an acceptable worship with reverence and awe; 29 for indeed our God is a consuming fire.(Hebrews 12:18-29 NRSV)
May the blessings of the Lord Jesus be with you on this Tuesday is my prayer for you and yours, dear Reader. As we pray today, let us pray to give thanks for a successful surgery on our brother, Phil Koehler. Prayers for his recovery. Thanks be to God for answered prayers. Pray for one another. Pray for yourselves.
Our faith is tied to our worship. The Gospel lesson for this week, which we looked at yesterday, was all about what can and does happen in worship. Today's passage is about tying worship during the time of Moses to today. Worship during Moses' leadership was, to be honest, on the terrifying side. The presence of God in their midst scared even Moses. The sacredness of all things touched by God was so, that no one could touch the mountain, not even a dog, for there were consequences to defying the commandments of God regarding worship. Now, we are worshipers in grace-filled environments. We worship even in the presence of witnesses in heaven, but more so the presence of God, all under the New Covenant shared with us by Jesus, whose blood shouts life, while the blood of Abel shouted murder and death. Our worship should invite us to be a part of a holy faith that blesses God and blesses us. We are part of God's Kingdom which is unshakeable, so that nothing in our worship should detract us from the fullness of God. This calls for us to worship God with reverence and awe; God still remains a "consuming fire."
Here's how I see this. I have mentioned in my sermons that some of the most interesting discussions between my mother and father took place after church. Some of you also may have had some non-holy discussions right after church. Your words and thoughts, and even actions may have made our enemy smile, while making God's heart break. The words of life and guidance for a better life sidelined by the mundane and insignificant. Or, a word in the sermon may have triggered a reaction, not in any way reverent or awesome; our fullness for life deviated away by something we let take the wheel of our thoughts. Worried about the roast left in the oven? Worried that our son/daughter made too much noise in church? God laughs at those things as long as we let Him speak to us in every aspect of worship. Leave the distractions to the devil, and the blessings to God.
PRAYER: Awesome God, speak to us every time we pray, read Your Holy Word, sing a sacred song, or hear a message from one of Your anointed. Bless our thoughts with faithfulness so that our lives can lead to fruitfulness. This we pray in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Make it a point to invite someone to come to worship with you this Sunday.
Blessings of love,
Pastor Eradio Valverde
If these messages have blessed you, share a blessing with this ministry at paypal.me/eradiovalverde. Thank you!
