Reverence

Hebrews 12:28 Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer God an acceptable service with reverence and awe.

I went into the Christchurch Cathedral the other day and was taken aback by the size and sheer beauty of the architecture and design. You hear the jokes about the stain glass windows and the solemn looking Jesus but I think I know what the Catholic Church is going for (and not just Catholics, many Lutheran and Presbyterian churches have similar worship halls). I think that these church are trying to display the majesty and splendor of meeting with the King of kings and Lord of Lords and in so doing create a great reverence of and for God.

In Exodus 3 when Moses approached God He told Moses "Do not come near here; remove your sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground."

In Isaiah 6 upon having a vision of the Lord Isaiah lamented "Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts."

In Nehemiah 8 Ezra the scribe stood behind a wooden podium when he read from the book of the law so that the speaker (God) would be the focus and not the reader. Many people who greatly revere the Bible refer to pulpits or podiums as "The Throne of the Word of God."

But why should we have this same sort of reverence when we meet with the Lord? Because "Holy, Holy, Holy, is the LORD of hosts, the whole earth is full of His glory." Because when you pray you do so by the power of the same Holy, Holy, Holy, God the Spirit who humbled Himself to dwell inside of you so that your prayers could be mediated by the finished work of the Holy, Holy, Holy, God the Son who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Holy, Holy, Holy, God the Father who sovereignly attends to all of our needs for His glory.

Reverence for God is what Proverbs 9:10 aptly describes as a fear of the Lord, which is the beginning of wisdom. Think about, what kind of wisdom is being described here? The worst people in history have manifested some sort of wisdom. Wisdom here is referring to an understanding of our relationship with God and the application of His Holy Word, which is only possible until one fears what God is capable of and what we as sinners deserve. But God has instilled this fear, or think of it as humility, in us so that we can rightly see Him and His will for our lives. If then humility is where it begins, then pride is the great hinderance of a continued growing relationship with the Lord, and that is the point I'm trying to make.

Many people nonchalantly enter into a time of informal prayer or a casual reading of the bible. Church services can be unprayerfully attended. Christian service can be view as not directly unto the Lord but to men and women. I could go on but I believe I've made my point and I would rather you seek for it's application through prayerful reflection.

Be encouraged that you can boldly, and yes reverently, go before the throne of God and speak to Him as a baby cries out to their mother in time of need with utter and total dependence, and faith.

2 Chronicles 7:1 Now when Solomon had finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the LORD filled the house. 2 The priests could not enter into the house of the LORD because the glory of the LORD filled the LORD'S house. 3 All the sons of Israel, seeing the fire come down and the glory of the LORD upon the house, bowed down on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave praise to the LORD, saying, "Truly He is good, truly His lovingkindness is everlasting."