God is a Consuming Fire

-


Scripture: Hebrews 12:28-29 (NIV)

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire.”

Devotion

In Hebrews 12:28-29, we are reminded of the unshakeable nature of God's kingdom and called to respond with thankfulness, reverence, and awe. These verses follow a passage that contrasts the old covenant, marked by trembling at Mount Sinai, with the new covenant established through Christ. While the old covenant instilled fear, the new covenant invites us into grace and stability—yet it still calls us to honor God's holiness. "For our God is a consuming fire" is not just a warning, but an invitation to recognize the power and purity of God Himself.

When we approach God, we do so as beneficiaries of a kingdom that cannot be shaken—not by circumstances, trials, or the chaos of the world. This reality should fill us with deep gratitude. Being thankful is not just an emotion; it is a posture of the heart that influences how we worship and live. Our worship, then, must be characterized by reverence—an acknowledgment of God’s majesty—and awe, a sense of wonder at His presence and character.

Saying that God is a consuming fire means He is holy and just. He burns away impurities and calls us into transformation. God’s fire is not destructive for those in Christ but purifying. It refines, renews, and empowers us to live lives pleasing to Him. As believers, our response is not to shrink back in fear but to draw near with respect and admiration, allowing God’s presence to shape us from the inside out.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, we thank You for the gift of Your unshakeable kingdom and for Your holy presence that purifies and renews us. Help us to worship You with sincere reverence and awe, acknowledging Your power and majesty. Cleanse our hearts from anything that does not honor You and fill us with gratitude for Your grace and mercy. May Your consuming fire refine our lives, guiding us to walk in truth and love. Let our devotion bring glory to Your name as we seek to draw closer to You each day. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Be A Good Minister

-
  Scripture: 1 Timothy 4:4-6 (NIV) 4  For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, 5  because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer. 6  If you point these things out to the brothers and sisters, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished on the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed. Devotion: This passage reminds us of the inherent goodness in all that God has created. Paul's letter to Timothy emphasizes a fundamental truth: everything created by God is good and should not be rejected if received with gratitude. This perspective encourages us to approach life with a heart full of thanksgiving, recognizing the sanctity and purpose in all things. The key to embracing this truth lies in our ability to consecrate our experiences through the word of God and prayer. This transformative act empowers us to align our hearts and minds with divine teachings,...
Read more

Bold Testimony

-
  Scripture: Acts 4:8-12 (ESV) Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders, 9  if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, 10  let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing before you well. 11  This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. 12  And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Devotion: In this passage from Acts 4:8-12, we witness a decisive moment where Peter, emboldened by the Holy Spirit, addresses the rulers and elders of the people. His bold testimony is not just a defense of miraculous healing but a proclamation of the central truth of the Christian faith. ...
Read more

Hope in Suffering

-
  Scripture: Romans 5:1-5 (ESV) Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him, we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. Devotion: In these verses from Romans, we find a profound message of hope and resilience. The apostle Paul reminds us that our faith in Jesus Christ justifies us, meaning it makes us right with God, and grants us peace with Him. This peace is not merely the absence of conflict but a deep-seated assurance of God's presence and favor in our lives. Paul goes further to connect our faith journey with the reality of suffering....
Read more