Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire. (Heb. 12:28–29)
The final essential of Hebrews 12 is to worship God acceptably and properly, “with reverence and awe.” We ought to set aside superficial and trivial controversies about worship style to experience and declare the glory of God with His people. And beyond our corporate gatherings, our very lives should be a “living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship” (Rom. 12:1). Our God, a great and “consuming fire” (Deut. 4:24), is worthy to have our entire lives devoted to Him.
To give our whole selves to God and practice these six essentials isn’t a responsibility to be carried out grudgingly. It is our privilege and pleasure to live as God intends us to. He has written the story of His glory across time and space, and—wonder upon wonder!—all who confess Christ as Lord find themselves a part of His master plan. When we live and act in accord with what He sets forth and pursue obedience over a lifetime, He will use us to keep writing His story and to draw others into His kingdom.
Are these essentials our duty? Sure they are. But they are also our delight as we live to display Christ’s greatness.
This article was adapted from the sermon “Essentials of Christian Maturity”by Alistair Begg.
Morning Moments 