March 28, 2017
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

An Unshakeable Kingdom

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Opening Prayer

Loving Lord, You who are just and merciful, give me understanding to do what is “right and just and fair” (Prov. 1:3).

Read Hebrews 12:14–29

[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. [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.” [21] The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, “I am trembling with fear.” [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.” [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.”

Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Reflect

God’s warnings are given to guide and guard us as we receive “a kingdom that cannot be shaken” (Heb. 12:28). We need to cultivate the ability to hear and obey those warnings today.

Hebrews contains many warnings against unbelief (2:1–3; 3:7–19; 6:4–8; 10:26–31). Some are quite dire and can cause concern, but each is designed to help us to choose God’s better, unshakeable kingdom rather than the shaky foundation of Jewish Law or religious self-effort. The two alternatives are pictured as mountains. The first is Mount Sinai (18–21), and the other is Mount Zion, the city of God (22–24). It’s hard to believe that anyone might be tempted to choose “darkness, gloom and storm” (18) against “thousands of angels in joyful assembly” (22), but it is amazing how easily we slip into the mistake of putting religious rules and traditions ahead of the exuberant freedom of God’s better kingdom. Esau becomes an example of godless behavior as he chose the immediate gratification of a bowl of soup at a time of hunger rather than the delayed privileges of his birthright as a son of God’s promises (Gen. 25:29–34). Afterwards he could not change Isaac’s mind, nor even his own, despite his many tears of regret (17). Let us pursue the grace of God now, while we still can.

Some years ago we lived in an earthquake zone. I remember my son’s seventh birthday party being interrupted by the whole house shaking and everyone running outside in fear. When you live where the whole earth might move at any time you begin to notice the fragility of buildings and become wary of man-made structures. One day God will shake every human construction and then only those things that cannot be shaken will remain (27). In the light of that, we should turn away from fragile things like bitterness, immorality and godlessness, choosing instead peace and holiness (14–16).

Apply

How can we show thanks for “receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken” (28)?

Closing prayer

Lord, when there is a whole lot of shaking going on around me, I am grateful I belong to a kingdom that cannot be shaken.

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