Welcome to this week’s episode, a special rerun from our Speaking of Life archive. We hope you find its timeless message as meaningful today as it was when it was first shared.
Watch video on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7-f8bgnXYc
Program Transcript
Speaking of Life 4039 | Remembering God’s Goodness
Cara Garrity
Have you ever left home without your wallet or cell phone? Or any item that you almost always have with you? I think most of us can relate to the wave of panic that ensues when we have forgotten something that was vitally important to us.
In the popular movie, “Home Alone”, Macaulay Calkin’s character, Kevin, accidentally gets left at home after his large family frantically leaves for the airport for their holiday vacation. A power outage the night before their trip turns off all their alarm clocks. Chaos ensues as the overslept family rushes out of the house as quickly as possible to meet their morning flight.
The family gets whisked off to the airport in two full-sized vans to accommodate all the brothers, sisters, cousins, aunts, and uncles. As they arrive at the airport, they make a mad dash to reach their flight. The family arrives at the gate just in time. The doors to the plane are shut as they find their seats.
Once on board, and in the skies, Kevin’s parents breathe a sigh of relief and start to relax. After a few minutes of destressing, Kevin’s mother gets a sneaking suspicion that something is missing. As she starts to recount her steps, she frighteningly realizes what it is and screams, “KEVIN!!!”
In the busyness of life, it sometimes happens that we can forget to factor in God’s goodness towards us and fail to notice all the many blessings that he has bestowed upon our lives. So many things vie for our attention that it’s easy to get distracted as we rush through our days doing important things.
One such figure in the Bible who had a problem getting distracted and forgetting what was most important was King David. He truly needed to remind himself of all the ways that God had been faithful to him. You can imagine that David was no stranger to busyness. As king, he had an entire kingdom to run, and the pressure was at times overwhelming.
It seems like David made a discovery that something was missing – that something in his life had been forgotten. With that in mind, David says the following:
Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits – who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
Psalm 103:1-5
Losing our perspective and forgetting about God’s good nature can leave us in a bad place. A place that King David was familiar with. He was no stranger to life’s trials and tribulations. Perhaps David wrote this when he recognized his vulnerability and realized his soul needed to think differently. David had to remind himself of God’s good nature and hold onto this belief despite his circumstances.
We too get tempted to look at the negative things in this life and wonder where God is in all of this. If you watch the news daily, you can’t help but notice how the vast majority of the stories are negative. Even if there is something positive, the news will find a way to bring out the bad.
But here is the deeper truth that cannot be touched by our circumstances or our busyness or forgetfulness. The truth about who God is and how he cares for us never changes. Even when we sometimes lose sight of it, because we get lost in our rush to live and work and recreate.
If you feel overwhelmed, stressed, and burdened beyond your limits.
Stop and take a moment to reflect on who God is and what he has done for you and for all of humanity. Think about the things David mentions – forgiveness, redemption, love, compassion. Give your soul the refreshment it needs by basking in the goodness of God, the life you have in Christ, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, who is our comforter.
While we may at times temporarily forget God’s faithfulness to us, we can be assured that he will remain faithful. In his kingdom, we will never get left home alone.
I’m Cara Garrity, Speaking of Life.
Program Transcript
Speaking of Life 4039 | Remembering God’s Goodness
Cara Garrity
Have you ever left home without your wallet or cell phone? Or any item that you almost always have with you? I think most of us can relate to the wave of panic that ensues when we have forgotten something that was vitally important to us.
In the popular movie, “Home Alone”, Macaulay Calkin’s character, Kevin, accidentally gets left at home after his large family frantically leaves for the airport for their holiday vacation. A power outage the night before their trip turns off all their alarm clocks. Chaos ensues as the overslept family rushes out of the house as quickly as possible to meet their morning flight.
The family gets whisked off to the airport in two full-sized vans to accommodate all the brothers, sisters, cousins, aunts, and uncles. As they arrive at the airport, they make a mad dash to reach their flight. The family arrives at the gate just in time. The doors to the plane are shut as they find their seats.
Once on board, and in the skies, Kevin’s parents breathe a sigh of relief and start to relax. After a few minutes of destressing, Kevin’s mother gets a sneaking suspicion that something is missing. As she starts to recount her steps, she frighteningly realizes what it is and screams, “KEVIN!!!”
In the busyness of life, it sometimes happens that we can forget to factor in God’s goodness towards us and fail to notice all the many blessings that he has bestowed upon our lives. So many things vie for our attention that it’s easy to get distracted as we rush through our days doing important things.
One such figure in the Bible who had a problem getting distracted and forgetting what was most important was King David. He truly needed to remind himself of all the ways that God had been faithful to him. You can imagine that David was no stranger to busyness. As king, he had an entire kingdom to run, and the pressure was at times overwhelming.
It seems like David made a discovery that something was missing – that something in his life had been forgotten. With that in mind, David says the following:
Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits – who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
Psalm 103:1-5
Losing our perspective and forgetting about God’s good nature can leave us in a bad place. A place that King David was familiar with. He was no stranger to life’s trials and tribulations. Perhaps David wrote this when he recognized his vulnerability and realized his soul needed to think differently. David had to remind himself of God’s good nature and hold onto this belief despite his circumstances.
We too get tempted to look at the negative things in this life and wonder where God is in all of this. If you watch the news daily, you can’t help but notice how the vast majority of the stories are negative. Even if there is something positive, the news will find a way to bring out the bad.
But here is the deeper truth that cannot be touched by our circumstances or our busyness or forgetfulness. The truth about who God is and how he cares for us never changes. Even when we sometimes lose sight of it, because we get lost in our rush to live and work and recreate.
If you feel overwhelmed, stressed, and burdened beyond your limits.
Stop and take a moment to reflect on who God is and what he has done for you and for all of humanity. Think about the things David mentions – forgiveness, redemption, love, compassion. Give your soul the refreshment it needs by basking in the goodness of God, the life you have in Christ, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, who is our comforter.
While we may at times temporarily forget God’s faithfulness to us, we can be assured that he will remain faithful. In his kingdom, we will never get left home alone.
I’m Cara Garrity, Speaking of Life.
Psalm 71:1–6 • Jeremiah 1:4–10 • Hebrews 12:18–29 • Luke 13:10–17
The theme for this week is God’s gracious word. Our call to worship psalm reminds us of the power of God’s word. We cry out for deliverance, and at God’s command, we are saved. In our Old Testament passage, Jeremiah believes he is unfit to speak on God’s behalf, to share God’s word with others, but the Lord touches his mouth and gives him the words to say. The writer in Hebrews contrasts the difference between God’s word spoken on Mt. Sinai to the people of ancient Israel and God’s word of grace spoken in his Son Jesus Christ. In our Gospel passage, as the Son of God incarnate, Jesus speaks words of gracious love and heals a woman who had been bent over for eighteen years.
How to use this sermon resource.
Are We Listening?
Hebrews 12:18–29 ESV
Have you ever told someone the details about an amazing experience you had, only for them to say when you get done, “I’m sorry. What did you say? Was it important?” As we read the text today, keep in mind that God has spoken a profound and final word to all of us. The question is not, is God speaking — the question is, are we listening?
The writer of the book of Hebrews begins in the first chapter,
Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high … Hebrews 1:1–3 ESV
This sets the groundwork for the entire book of Hebrews. The writer then begins to show the infinite superiority of the New Covenant ratified in Jesus’ blood as compared with the Old Covenant ratified in the blood of animals. God’s word to his people is his own Son, the One the apostle John called the Word of God, the Logos.
As the writer of Hebrews explains, this Word of God, who is the perfect sacrifice for sin, died his sacrificial death, rose again, and is now seated in the heavenly realms. Jesus Christ, the Son of God and Word of God, now sits in face-to-face union and communion with his Father in the Spirit. As our risen Lord, he bears our restored and glorified humanity. Jesus intercedes on our behalf, acts as our high priest and our mediator. Jesus takes all we offer God in our prayer and worship and makes it an acceptable gift to his Father in the Spirit. And Jesus takes the blessing and grace of his Father and offers it to us in the Spirit. Jesus’ intercession, in this way, enables us to live in right relationship with God.
In view of all this, let’s begin to read our passage for today, which lies near the end of the book of Hebrews. [Read Hebrews 12:18–29 ESV]
You may have noticed that God speaks in this passage, the voice of God is mentioned, and the sprinkled blood speaks. And there is a warning spoken on earth, and a warning spoken from heaven. The spoken word appears to be an important concept in this passage. And the word being spoken on earth is contrasted with that spoken from heaven. God’s voice may have shaken the earth the first time, but the next time, God’s shaking will involve all he has made, and result in the establishment of a permanent, eternal kingdom.
So, let’s look a little more closely at what this writer is saying.
For you have not come to what may be touched, a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest and the sound of a trumpet and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that no further messages be spoken to them. For they could not endure the order that was given, “If even a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned.” Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I tremble with fear.” Hebrews 12:18–21 ESV
This is a reference to the time when God gave the law to Israel. God spoke to his people from the mountain, but they were so frightened by the experience that the ancient nation of Israel begged Moses to speak in God’s stead from then on. And even though their covenant with God was ratified with the blood of animals and bound them to love God devotedly and to obey him, they did not keep that covenant. While Moses was up on the mountain with God to receive the two stone tablets on which were written the ten commands, the people worshiped a golden calf. God’s response to their faithlessness was not pleasant, but its purpose was to restore their relationship with him and move them to faithful obedience.
Now the writer will contrast Israel’s faithless disobedience with God’s faithfulness:
But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. Hebrews 12:22–24 ESV
The author takes us away from our earthly vantage point and moves us up into a heavenly one. We are asked to open our eyes to see beyond the physical realities into the spiritual realities. We’re to see God’s presence, the universal Church of believers, along with myriads of angels, all gathered in glory. Jesus is in the center, the one and only firstborn Son of God. The redeemed are equal inheritors of Jesus’ blessings — in Christ we are all firstborn, therefore heirs, of God’s eternal kingdom.
And notice the “word” motif showing up again. This time it has to do with the blood of Abel speaking out, the blood that was spilled when Cain murdered his brother Abel. His death — the death of a firstborn son, by the way — sparked a desire for vengeance in those around him. God marked him to prevent vengeance from being enacted on him. But Cain eventually ended up murdered, just as he had murdered his brother.
Abel’s sprinkled blood spoke of murder and vengeance. The sprinkled blood in the tabernacle or temple in ancient Israel did not ensure healing and renewal for those who participated in sacrificial offerings. But the sprinkled blood of Jesus Christ, spread on the ground as he hung on the cross, covered all our sin. The shed blood of Jesus spoke of our redemption, restoration, forgiveness, and healing. The sprinkled blood of God’s own Word, Jesus Christ, is a powerful word which speaks renewal to all things, and to us.
But this is a word we need to listen to and pay attention to. The writer of Hebrews says,
See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven. Hebrews 12:25 ESV
The readers of the book of Hebrews were in danger of succumbing to the belief that they needed to go back to observing Old Testament days and rituals to be saved. They were overlooking the profound difference between what God had given to them originally and that which was meant to supersede it finally in Jesus Christ. They were so focused on their human efforts to save themselves that they missed the One who had saved them, Jesus Christ. They were so focused on the written word and what they thought it required they do, that they missed the eternal, living Word, Jesus Christ, who saves by grace alone through faith.
This is easy for us to do, too. Not only do we need to hear the Word, Jesus Christ, we need to obey the Word, who is Lord of all. He reigns on high. Only he redeems us, restores our relationship with God, and makes us new. As God in our glorified humanity, Jesus continues to be God’s word to us. Jesus is the truth of our being. And Jesus is the king of the kingdom of God. Because he is the king of the kingdom, it is his glory we seek and his will we do. It is his word we listen to and obey. It is by his grace that we are healed and are saved. It is him we put our faith and trust in.
Keeping this in mind, let’s read further:
At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of things that are shaken—that is, things that have been made—in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain. Hebrews 12:26–27 ESV
Here the author brings out a profound contrast between Mount Sinai, which shook when God spoke to his people, and the shaking which will occur when Jesus returns in glory to establish the new heaven and earth. At Mount Sinai, God was wanting to ratify a love covenant with ancient Israel, to make them his people. But when the people of ancient Israel heard God, and everything around them shook, it was a terrifying experience. Instead of fear, though, they should have experienced faith, love, and gratitude.
Here in this passage in Hebrews, we learn that this first covenant is superseded by something infinitely superior. In the same way, this earth, which we think is so solid and secure, will one day be made new, along with everything else in our cosmos. Jesus is making all things new (Revelation 21:5), and Jesus will complete this when the renewal of all things occurs in his heavenly kingdom. The spiritual realities will supersede the physical realities — so we need to keep our perspective right. We need to pay attention to what God says to us in Jesus Christ. We need to attend to the spiritual realities, so that we don’t miss out on the significant thing God is doing right now and will do, that will last for all eternity.
The writer of Hebrews concludes this section of the book by saying,
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. Hebrews 12:28–29 ESV
Our response to all Jesus Christ has done for us, is doing for us, and will do for us is simply gratitude and worship. The author reminds the readers of Hebrews that God is not requiring the Old Covenant observances. He is simply asking for a faith response of gratitude and worship. Keeping our eyes on Jesus, and all he has done for us, there is only one proper response, and that is to be thankful, and to bow in reverent worship. Our God is so passionate about our redemption and restoration, that he was willing to go through the fire of a truly human existence, death by crucifixion, and being laid in a grave. We are called to be equally passionate about all God has done for us in Jesus. May the fire of the Holy Spirit burn in our hearts, and consume all that does not belong, so that we may share in the glories of his heavenly kingdom, now and forever. May God finish what he has begun in us, that we may truly worship him in reverence and awe, in gratitude for his word spoken to us in Jesus Christ our Lord.
As we close, this is a good time to spend a moment in silence, reflecting on who Jesus Christ is for us as the God who is a consuming fire. What would you have Jesus burn away in your heart and your life by his Spirit? Let’s take a moment to reflect and pray about this. [Pause for a few minutes of silent congregational prayer.]
Prayer: Holy Father, we thank you for the glorious and wonderful thing you have done in speaking your love to us in and through your Son by your Spirit. Thank you for coming, Jesus, to speak to us of the love of your Father. Thank you, dear Trinity, for keeping your word to us. Please bend our will to your will, for your glory and praise, in Jesus’ name by your heavenly power. Amen.
Ted Johnston—Year C Proper 16
Listen to audio: https://cloud.gci.org/dl/GReverb/GR066-Johnston-YearC-Proper16.mp3
August 24, 2025 — Proper 16 in Ordinary Time
Hebrews 12:18-29
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Program Transcript
Ted Johnston—Year C Proper 16
Anthony: Let’s transition to the next pericope, it’s Hebrews 12:18–29. It is a Revised Common Lectionary passage for Proper 16 in Ordinary Time, August 24. Ted, we’d be grateful if you read it.
Ted:
You have not come to something that can be touched, a blazing fire, and darkness, and gloom, and a tempest, 19 and the sound of a trumpet, and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that not another word be spoken to them. 20 (For they could not endure the order that was given, “If even an animal touches the mountain, it shall be stoned to death.” 21 Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I tremble with fear.”) 22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, 23 and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24 and 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 that you do not refuse the one who is speaking, for if they did not escape when they refused the one who warned them on earth, how much less will we escape if we reject the one who warns from heaven! 26 At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heaven.” 27 This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of what is 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 show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable worship with reverence and awe, 29 for indeed our God is a consuming fire.
Anthony: Since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude. Hallelujah. Ted, Jesus is the mediator of a new covenant. Those are, that was, an eight-word statement, but a lot of work is being done there. It’s good news. Why is it such good news in the here and now?
Ted: Yes. If we had about 12 hours, I would explain it to you in detail,
Anthony: which we don’t, but
Ted: … we don’t. So, suffice it to say that the author of the book of Hebrews, whoever he or she is, is comparing and contrasting the old covenant with a new covenant. And this letter, this sermon really is addressed to Jewish Christians who are extremely familiar with the old covenant.
They’d grown up living by its precepts, but now have embraced Jesus who is himself the new covenant, and he is urging them and urging us by extension to understand the superiority of the new as compared to the old. Some of them, of course, were being tempted to turn away from the new and return back to the order of the old, because that was what was familiar to them. That was what was comfortable, was kind of safe for them.
And I don’t mean to condemn those folks. If I were going through what they were going through, I don’t know what I would do. But he wants them to keep their eyes focused on Jesus, who is the new covenant. To leave the new is to turn one’s back on Jesus, who mediates the new covenant. One might say as I’ve already said, that he himself really is the new covenant, the new relationship between God and humanity found in the person of the incarnate, Son of God, Jesus Christ. And here’s the good news and a source of encouragement to them, and I hope and encouragement and hope to us — Jesus is God and can be trusted.
Anthony: I say it again. We are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken because God cannot be shaken. So, we should show gratitude. It’s expressed in verse 28 and the writer of Hebrews goes on to continue the thought by heralding God as a consuming fire. I’m curious, how do these things go together?
Ted: As I mentioned before the author is drawing from the Old Testament, in other words, the Hebrew scriptures, which these Jewish Christians were very familiar with and using stories and symbols, events that were very familiar to them and the language that’s being used here he is drawing directly from Israel’s experience in the Exodus and which God revealed his presence to Israel in a cloud by day and by fire at night.
And even back to the story of the burning bush. These were signs of the presence of God that left the Israelites awestruck, but now the author is saying, you Jewish Christians, and all Christians today, now that you and the person of Jesus see how the new covenant operates, don’t lose that sense of awe, that sense of reverence that will allow you to turn your back on Jesus. Instead of under appreciating Jesus and what he gives us, be full of gratitude.
For it is, I’m going to say, reverent gratitude that so powerfully shapes our affections and directs our steps. Is worship important? It’s important because God is due worship, but it’s also important to the worshipers, because it instills in us that reverent awe, and that is extremely important, especially in the hard times, times when we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, to quote from that familiar psalm.
And so, to keep in mind of who it is that we are worshiping and to cultivate that reverent awe, that sense of gratitude towards God is extremely important for how we walk this journey with Christ, which sometimes can be very difficult.
Anthony: I think you’ve said something vitally important because there’s a misunderstanding sometimes, especially from critics of Christianity, that God is somehow this needy, self-absorbed God who needs our worship.
Ted: Yeah.
Anthony: He doesn’t.
Ted: No.
Anthony: No, but as you pointed to, he’s worthy of it for certain, for what he has revealed in Jesus Christ, but also it does something to us, just like praying. It changes the person who is praying, not the one being prayed to, he’s the same yesterday, today, and forever. He is good.
Ted: Yes.
Anthony: He doesn’t have to be conditioned to be good. He is good. But it does something to our hearts and I think that’s so important for us to see God.
God is not needy. He is completely full of harmony and love and is satisfied, but he chose to create out of love and hallelujah that we get to participate in that. And just a final word before we transition to our final passage of the month. As Hebrews says, Jesus’ blood speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
Hallelujah.
Program Transcript
Ted Johnston—Year C Proper 16
Anthony: Let’s transition to the next pericope, it’s Hebrews 12:18–29. It is a Revised Common Lectionary passage for Proper 16 in Ordinary Time, August 24. Ted, we’d be grateful if you read it.
Ted:
You have not come to something that can be touched, a blazing fire, and darkness, and gloom, and a tempest, 19 and the sound of a trumpet, and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that not another word be spoken to them. 20 (For they could not endure the order that was given, “If even an animal touches the mountain, it shall be stoned to death.” 21 Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I tremble with fear.”) 22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, 23 and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24 and 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 that you do not refuse the one who is speaking, for if they did not escape when they refused the one who warned them on earth, how much less will we escape if we reject the one who warns from heaven! 26 At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heaven.” 27 This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of what is 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 show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable worship with reverence and awe, 29 for indeed our God is a consuming fire.
Anthony: Since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude. Hallelujah. Ted, Jesus is the mediator of a new covenant. Those are, that was, an eight-word statement, but a lot of work is being done there. It’s good news. Why is it such good news in the here and now?
Ted: Yes. If we had about 12 hours, I would explain it to you in detail,
Anthony: which we don’t, but
Ted: … we don’t. So, suffice it to say that the author of the book of Hebrews, whoever he or she is, is comparing and contrasting the old covenant with a new covenant. And this letter, this sermon really is addressed to Jewish Christians who are extremely familiar with the old covenant.
They’d grown up living by its precepts, but now have embraced Jesus who is himself the new covenant, and he is urging them and urging us by extension to understand the superiority of the new as compared to the old. Some of them, of course, were being tempted to turn away from the new and return back to the order of the old, because that was what was familiar to them. That was what was comfortable, was kind of safe for them.
And I don’t mean to condemn those folks. If I were going through what they were going through, I don’t know what I would do. But he wants them to keep their eyes focused on Jesus, who is the new covenant. To leave the new is to turn one’s back on Jesus, who mediates the new covenant. One might say as I’ve already said, that he himself really is the new covenant, the new relationship between God and humanity found in the person of the incarnate, Son of God, Jesus Christ. And here’s the good news and a source of encouragement to them, and I hope and encouragement and hope to us — Jesus is God and can be trusted.
Anthony: I say it again. We are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken because God cannot be shaken. So, we should show gratitude. It’s expressed in verse 28 and the writer of Hebrews goes on to continue the thought by heralding God as a consuming fire. I’m curious, how do these things go together?
Ted: As I mentioned before the author is drawing from the Old Testament, in other words, the Hebrew scriptures, which these Jewish Christians were very familiar with and using stories and symbols, events that were very familiar to them and the language that’s being used here he is drawing directly from Israel’s experience in the Exodus and which God revealed his presence to Israel in a cloud by day and by fire at night.
And even back to the story of the burning bush. These were signs of the presence of God that left the Israelites awestruck, but now the author is saying, you Jewish Christians, and all Christians today, now that you and the person of Jesus see how the new covenant operates, don’t lose that sense of awe, that sense of reverence that will allow you to turn your back on Jesus. Instead of under appreciating Jesus and what he gives us, be full of gratitude.
For it is, I’m going to say, reverent gratitude that so powerfully shapes our affections and directs our steps. Is worship important? It’s important because God is due worship, but it’s also important to the worshipers, because it instills in us that reverent awe, and that is extremely important, especially in the hard times, times when we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, to quote from that familiar psalm.
And so, to keep in mind of who it is that we are worshiping and to cultivate that reverent awe, that sense of gratitude towards God is extremely important for how we walk this journey with Christ, which sometimes can be very difficult.
Anthony: I think you’ve said something vitally important because there’s a misunderstanding sometimes, especially from critics of Christianity, that God is somehow this needy, self-absorbed God who needs our worship.
Ted: Yeah.
Anthony: He doesn’t.
Ted: No.
Anthony: No, but as you pointed to, he’s worthy of it for certain, for what he has revealed in Jesus Christ, but also it does something to us, just like praying. It changes the person who is praying, not the one being prayed to, he’s the same yesterday, today, and forever. He is good.
Ted: Yes.
Anthony: He doesn’t have to be conditioned to be good. He is good. But it does something to our hearts and I think that’s so important for us to see God.
God is not needy. He is completely full of harmony and love and is satisfied, but he chose to create out of love and hallelujah that we get to participate in that. And just a final word before we transition to our final passage of the month. As Hebrews says, Jesus’ blood speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
Hallelujah.
Small Group Discussion Questions
- What is the difference between the Old Covenant ratified in the blood of animals and the New Covenant ratified in Jesus’ blood? Why is it important to understand this?
- What is the difference between the shaking at Mt. Sinai and the shaking of heaven and earth that will happen when Jesus returns in glory?
- Why is it important for us to pay attention to what Jesus is saying to us in his gospel message, and in his sacrificial self-offering?
