By Reverend J. Loren Russell
Hebrews 12:25-29 (28-29) NLT
“Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe. For our God is a devouring fire.’”
Imagine a building that cannot be moved. Neither wind, storms, rains, hurricanes, earthquakes, or any other catastrophe can topple this building. Now imagine an entire kingdom that cannot be shaken. The writer of Hebrews indicates that his readers are already in the process of receiving this unshakable kingdom. Receiving is in the present tense, not in the future.
Fast forward and apply that same promise to you as a believer in the resurrected Christ. We, too, have a kingdom that has already been given. What an empowering statement; we do not have to wait for the kingdom, it is already here. Right now! It is not something that has been earned nor deserved, it has been freely given.
The response was for the readers to be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe. The New King James Version says we are to have grace and serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. Grace, gratitude, appreciation, humility, meekness are all synonyms that describe the appreciation we should have because of the precious gift we have been given, an unshakable kingdom.
God wants nothing but the best for you and everyone who comes into your circle of influence. The writer admonishes his readers to have grace and gratitude for the precious gift so compassionately given. Why wouldn’t anyone want to worship, praise, and honor a God who provides an unshakeable kingdom that cannot be destroyed, nor can it be removed?
Just to be clear, the precious gift of an unshakable kingdom was secured by the shedding of His blood, the resurrection of His body, His ascension into heaven, and the promise of His return. The unshakable kingdom is freely given and must be freely received. The flip side of receiving is the consuming fire of God for those who reject that undeserved gift.
Either you embrace the unshakable kingdom of God or get caught up in His consuming fire. The choice is yours.
Be Blessed!
Rev. J. Loren Russell is an associate minister at Goodwill Baptist Church and is the spiritual leader of both LaGree Baptist Church and the Evangelical Church of God, all in the Bronx, President/CEO of The JLR Company for Church Financial & Strategic Consulting (718-328-8096), and is the creator and host of “Matters of Faith – The Radio Show” on Monday nights from 8:00 – 10:00 PM on Facebook Live. Be sure to ‘Friend’ the Matters of Faith YouTube Channel. Email us at mattersoffaith.mof@gmail.com. Order your copy of Matters of Faith: The eBook at www.smashwords.com/books/view/993177.
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