I just  finished the book of Hebrews as part of my daily devotionals. Looking back on my notes, one verse stands out (at least right now). Hebrews is typically viewed as a book about faith (for good reason), but this particular verse is about something more…

 Since we are receiving a Kingdom that cannot be destroyed,
let us be thankful and please God
by worshiping him with holy fear and awe. 
For our God is a consuming fire.
Hebrews 12:28-29

Two things in particular strike me about this passage (and there’s a lot in there to unpack):

1. How we please God is by worshiping Him. But not just any kind of worship…we are called to worship Him with “Holy Fear” and “Awe”. I don’t know about you, but I don’t see much in the way of holy fear OR awe…even in Christian circles nowadays. Where has it gone? Am I just not seeing it? I certainly don’t think I live my life that way very often.

2. So, why should we worship God like this? I love this part…because God is a consuming fire! Our God is dangerous, risky, powerful. He consumes our lives with the fire of His Spirit. This is an image that inspires me…deep down in the depths of my soul.

I’m still on the journey, still learning, but this passage challenges me to look at how I worship God. I certainly shouldn’t be worshiping Him meekly…I am to worship Him with awe and respect. And He is a consuming fire that will inhabit that praise and my life.

Lord, consume my life…every part…with your fire!