WORSHIP AND COMMUNITY
Opening Prayer
Jesus, my Great High Priest, you died for me on Calvary, and now you intercede for me in heaven. Help me to live in ways that testify to your continuing grace and mercy.
Read HEBREWS 12:14–29
For additional translations of the passage, use this link to Bible Gateway.
Warning and Encouragement
14 Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. 15 See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. 16 See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son. 17 Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. Even though he sought the blessing with tears, he could not change what he had done.
The Mountain of Fear and the Mountain of Joy
18 You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm; 19 to a trumpet blast or to such a voice speaking words that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them, 20 because they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death.”[a] 21 The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, “I am trembling with fear.”[b]
22 But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, 23 to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24 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 to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven? 26 At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.”[c] 27 The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be 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 be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, 29 for our “God is a consuming fire.”[d]
Footnotes
- Hebrews 12:20 Exodus 19:12,13
- Hebrews 12:21 See Deut. 9:19.
- Hebrews 12:26 Haggai 2:6
- Hebrews 12:29 Deut. 4:24
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Reflect
Do you prefer a quiet, intimate setting, or a loud, exuberant gathering to worship? What do you dislike about ways of worshipping you can’t easily engage with?The first part of today’s reading gives us an example of how not to live in community and harmony with others—that of Esau. The writer was concerned that the Hebrews did not lose out on the blessing that was rightly theirs. But it can be hard work being at peace with others and being holy. We need to ‘make every effort’ (v. 14).
Then we move on to the description of what happened at Mount Sinai—the giving of the law, amid the terrifying signs of God’s presence and warnings not to approach (Exodus 19:12, 13). That’s followed by what Mount Zion was like—also filled with God’s presence, but with open access to him through Jesus, who replaced the law with the blood of the new covenant (vv. 22–24). And as well as the heavenly hosts, there are also all those who have run their race and now stand before God in perfect righteousness.
The final two verses remind us, however, that access to God is not to be taken lightly; he is the God of Mount Sinai and Mount Zion, so how we worship him matters (vv. 28, 29).
Apply
What impact might the way we view God, and the way we worship him, have on how we engage with others? Is there, or should there be, a connection between those things?
Closing prayer
Thank you, Lord God, that I can worship you in spirit and in truth. Help me to honor you not only with my lips, but with my whole heart.
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