Verse of the Day 11/19

Hebrews 12:28-29   Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may^[a] serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. ²⁹ For our God is a consuming fire.   New King James Version (NKJV)

When I was younger and before  I had back issues I enjoyed running , for a time I would run 3 to 5 miles several days a week.  I also liked finishing with a kick, saving up some strength to finish with a sprint, giving it my all.  There was a certain satisfaction being exhausted and out of breath yet still feeling a sense of exhilaration.

Hebrews 12 begins  with the call, the challenge to "run the race with endurance" it is the picture of running a marathon.  So are our Christian lives to be.  Max Lucado writes, "the word race is from the Greek agon from which we get the word agony.  The Christian's race is not a jog but rather a demanding and grueling, sometimes agonizing race.  It takes massive effort to finish strong."  But we can ran and we can run this race by giving up the rat race (which no one wins), and following the course that God has set before us, with its ups and downs, knowing that He will provide the grace, the power to persevere in this sometimes agonizing race..  And as the runner leaves something for the end, so should we.  We'd like to finish strong and win the crown.

What do you think about the statement "our God is a consuming fire"?  In the context of this chapter and these verses, I get the picture of God burning up all the useless things that can slow us down in the race, many of which others are chasing after in their rat race.  Let us serve the Lord, running His race in reverence towards Him while looking to the finish line where He will be waiting for us.

For God is not an indifferent bystander. He's actively cleaning house, torching all that needs to burn, and he won't quit until it's all cleansed. God himself is Fire!  Hebrews 12:29 The Message

--   In Christ,  Mike    Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com  Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins,  in accordance with the riches of God's grace.  NIV    

Hebrews 12:25-29The Message (MSG)

^25-27 So don't turn a deaf ear to these gracious words. If those who ignored earthly warnings didn't get away with it, what will happen to us if we turn our backs on heavenly warnings? His voice that time shook the earth to its foundations; this time—he's told us this quite plainly—he'll also rock the heavens: "One last shaking, from top to bottom, stem to stern." The phrase "one last shaking" means a thorough housecleaning, getting rid of all the historical and religious junk so that the unshakable essentials stand clear and uncluttered.

^28-29 Do you see what we've got? An unshakable kingdom! And do you see how thankful we must be? Not only thankful, but brimming with worship, deeply reverent before God. For God is not an indifferent bystander. He's actively cleaning house, torching all that needs to burn, and he won't quit until it's all cleansed. God himself is Fire!