shaken...

Hebrews 12:25-29

The key words: warn/speak/voice, shaken. This section connects to the previous verses in that the author is still making a comparison to Mount Sinai where the Old Covenant was given and to Mount Zion where the new covenant will be fully realized. The author is referring to God's voice shaking the earth as he gave the Laws of the Old Covenant. The people ignored his voice and suffered judgment. The whole generation perished in the wilderness because of their rebellion. The author contends that the danger this generation is in is even greater because God is not just speaking from earth but from heaven.
The author indicates that there will be one more "shaking" and that this time it will not just be the earth but the heavens. The emphasis is on "once more" indicating that this will be the final shaking. All the temporal things will be destroyed and only the eternal things will remain. The author reminds the readers that the kingdom they are receiving cannot be shaken. It is eternal. It will survive the final shake.
The response the author calls for is one of worship. Specifically the author calls for acceptable worship. Paul calls acceptable worship the offering of our bodies as one living sacrifice. This echoes the author's emphasis in 12:14-16 on body life and in 10:24-25 on the importance of meeting together. The author also indicates that acceptable worship has a proper view of God's holiness: he is a consuming fire so let us worship in reverence and awe. I think we've (and I've) lost the reverence and awe of God. I see him as Father, as Friend but not as much as King, as God Most High, Possessor of Heaven and Earth. I don't focus on the fact that he is a consuming fire who will absolutely ruin me (but in such a great and scary way) if I truly surrender to him. A consuming fire is never satisfied until it has completely consumed the material. As long as there is something left to consume, it will continue to demand it. This is a picture of God that I don't spend much time contemplating. He wants it all. That is thrilling and scary at the same time.

Consumed

This was done Feb. 19 but I didn't have access to the internet
1 Timothy 4:15-16

Paul told Timothy to give himself wholly to setting an example for the believers, to reading Scripture publicly, to teaching and preaching and to using his gift. This was what was to consume Timothy’s life. As I look at the list, it seems pretty broad and overwhelming to me. I am the type of person that needs one thing to focus on. This, especially when I look at all the things that Timothy was supposed to set an example in, is a very long list of things. Far be it from me to disagree with Paul (there’s no sense in arguing with an inspired writer of Scripture) but I think I prefer Jesus’ priority: Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness. All of these things that Paul tells Timothy to devote his life to fall into the category of the kingdom of God and His righteousness but I like the single minded focus of Jesus’ teaching. This gives me something to measure my life against: does this promote the kingdom of God or God’s righteousness in my life? I really want that to consume my life!