My dear brothers and sisters, we are privileged to have been chosen by our Lord JESUS CHRIST in this present generation. We have this great grace to call HIM as father. Lord JESUS CHRIST purchased us with HIS own precious blood by dying on the Cross. HE bought us a bond-servant but promoted us to be HIS sons (John 1:12). HE wants us to be HIS friends and ultimately HIS bride.
Bible says…“In HIS Presence is the fullness of Joy”(Psalm 16:11).
Yes truly God’s presence is always fulfilling. But have we ever realized that when we sit at the feet of Lord JESUS CHRIST, do we have reverence for our father Lord JESUS CHRIST?
Yes we have this pleasure of calling HIM as father but even in this world there is always a reverence in a sons’ heart for HIS father.
John 6:38 says
“For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me”
John 8:49 says
Jesus answered, “I do not have a demon; but I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me.”
John 15:10 says
“If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.”
If we read the above verses, JESUS CHRIST honored the father and was obedient to HIS commands.
HE had reverence towards HIS father. HE was the Son of God and Son of man at the same time but HE humbled Himself to the point of death (Phil 2:8).
The reverence here we are talking about is not out of fear or being afraid that something wrong might happen to us or face punishment but rather reverence out of love for our father. People pray whenever they feel like to pray whether it be of two minutes or ten minutes, thinking that God honors all prayers. They have a casual approach at times that no matter in what posture we pray i.e either lying down or sleeping in bed or having one leg over another, God doesn’t look at these things because HE loves us. My friends God is love but HE loves reverence and discipline.
Hebrews 12:28 says
“Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe;…”
Acts 9:31 says
So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria enjoyed peace, being built up; and going on in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it continued to increase.
1 Corinthians 6:20 says
For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.
Yes our body must glorify the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords’
John 4:24 says
“God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”
JESUS himself lived a disciplined life. People think that reverence was only in Old Testament but not in New. No my friends, no where in the bible it is mentioned that don’t revere God or dishonor God. If we are given an opportunity to meet Chief minister of a state or Prime Minister/President of a nation, how would we behave? Even our phones will be switched off and our full attention and focus would be on the dignitary. Our body language would be different. But when we go to prayer meetings our attitude is at times so casual that we don’t bother to please God. This is the reason that many miss or don’t feel the presence of God.
Psalm 5:7 says
But as for me, by Your abundant loving kindness I will enter Your house, At Your holy temple I will bow in reverence for You.
Psalm 2:11 says
Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.
Bible talks much about the nature of a Lamb that we must inherit as the children of the Most High God. Lamb/Sheep just obeys the master without using its brains, we must be like that. We must reflect the Lord JESUS CHRIST (also known as Lamb of God that was slain) in totality.
Let us examine our ways when we sit for worship, meditate on the word of God or pray even in our closet.It doesn’t mean that we have to be legalistic like Sadducee’s and Pharisees performing ritualism in every way i.e. that God would only listen if we kneel down to pray. No my friends, but honoring God as HE is our loving father and bridegroom who is coming to take HIS prepared bride.
Remember how King Solomon and the priests responded seeing the glory of God in the temple.
2 Chronicles 7:1-4
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 temple. And the priests could not enter the house of the Lord, because the glory of the Lord had filled the Lord’s house. When all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the Lord on the temple, they bowed their faces to the ground on the pavement, and worshiped and praised the Lord, saying:
“For He is good,
For His mercy endures forever.”
Then the king and all the people offered sacrifices before the Lord.
Notice how King Solomon and priests bowed down to the ground when they saw the glory of God.
Exodus 3:5 says
Then He said, “Do not draw near this place. Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground.”
Moses’ first encounter is mentioned in Exodus 3 and God told Moses to take off HIS sandal depicting that his old way of living is gone and new has come. HIS old life-style died when he had his first encounter with God. Also the reverence that Moses must give to the Lord Most High God.
In Exodus 34:1-8 when Moses saw the glory of God,after the Lord visited Moses, his reaction was visible in Exodus 34:8, which says
“So Moses made haste and bowed his head toward the earth, and worshiped”
Yes he humbled himself at the feet of the Lord God Almighty who revealed Himself to Moses.
Let us all learn from the Prophets of the Bible and our Lord JESUS CHRIST that how we must respond to the Presence and glory of God. There are so many things that can be written but the above verses are sufficient to reveal the ways of man that can and do please God and attract HIS presence.
