Daily Affirmations - Day 3 - The Power in Prayer - A Consuming Fire
Day 3: A Consuming Fire
…Let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire” (Hebrews 12:28-29)
In the natural realm, we understand that laws and constraints exist. The law of gravity means that a human cannot survive a free fall from certain heights without protective equipment or a shield. And we understand that even though the sun is 93 million miles (149.60 million km) from earth, ultraviolet and infrared radiation from the sun can be harmful in many ways.
We seem to have a lot more trouble with spiritual laws. "No one may see Me and live," the Lord God Almighty who made the sun, told Moses. But He offered Moses an extraordinary solution: "I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by" (Exodus 33:20, 22). God protected Moses from certain death by providing a shield against the operable spiritual law.
The symbolism of the rock is quite clear throughout Scripture. Numerous times God refers to Himself as The Rock: Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord Himself, is the Rock eternal (Isaiah 26:4). And about His Messiah (Saviour of the world) He gave this promise:
“I will put a Rock—a Cornerstone—in the ground in Zion. This will be a very precious stone. Everything will be built on this very important Rock. Anyone who trusts in that Rock will not be disappointed (Isaiah 28:16 - Easy to Read Version (ERV)).
It is this Rock, Jesus our protective shield, who covers us and gives us access to God: Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, His body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings… (Hebrews 10:19-22).
Our Father, in heaven we enter into Your presence praying as our Saviour taught us, "Hallowed be Your name." Teach us a posture of holy fear and reverence, so that even as we come boldly and with confidence (Hebrews 4:16) we would not come “trampling on Your courts” like “brute beasts” (Isaiah 1:12; Psalm 73:22).
Instead help us to “worship You acceptably with reverence and awe;" remembering that You are “a consuming fire” (Hebrews 12:28-29). And yet, because of Your great love (mercies) we are not consumed—for Your compassions never fail (Lamentations 3:22).
You have demonstrated this great love and mercy to us in Your Son Jesus, who gave His life to purify us before a holy God. In Him we see the radiance of Your glory, and the exact representation of Your being (Hebrews 1:3)— which no one could encounter and live. Thank you.
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