Terry Storch

Writing about life, leadership, faith, and anything else I find interesting.

Hebrews 12:18-29 - Fear or Joy

 

Hebrews 12:18-29 - Fear or Joy

The close of Hebrews chapter 12 is a contrast of two mountains. Mount Sinai, the mountain of fear from Exodus 19, and the Mountain of Joy, the city of the living God, made perfect through Jesus. If we look back into the book of Exodus, we learn that this mountain of fear did not work to produce holiness in the people. This fear and trembling did not succeed in changing the heart of Israel; it was just days later that this group of people were worshiping a golden idol, praising this thing as what brought them out of Egypt. 

Fear or Joy. How are we approaching God, and what is our view of God? Yesterday I was reminded that God is Not Angry, a perspective that we must apply genuinely into our heart and carry throughout our day. I loved how The Passion Translation titled this section, Entering into God’s Presence. The Old Covenant drove from laws and rules produces a Mountain of Fear. The New Covenant, with Jesus, produces an approach of Joy. Take a look at the contrasts between Mount Sinai and Mount Zion. This is an excerpt from David Guzik’s commentary:

  • Mount Sinai was marked by fear and terror – Mount Zion is a place of love and forgiveness.

  • Mount Sinai is in the desert – Mount Zion is the city of the Living God

  • Mount Sinai spoke of earthly things – Mount Zion speaks of heavenly things.

  • At Mount Sinai, only Moses was allowed to draw near to God – at Mount Zion, an innumerable company, a general assembly is invited to draw near.

  • Mount Sinai was characterized by guilty men in fear – Mount Zion features just men made perfect.

  • At Mount Sinai, Moses was the mediator – at Mount Zion, Jesus is the mediator.

  • Mount Sinai brings an Old Covenant, which was ratified by the blood of animals – Mount Zion brings a New Covenant, which is ratified by the blood of God’s precious Son.

  • Mount Sinai was all about exclusion, keeping people away from the mountain – Mount Zion is all about invitation.

  • Mount Sinai is all about Law – Mount Zion is all about grace.

How we see God impacts everything in our lives. What mountain is driving our actions and lives? Are we operating from law or love? Fear or grace? When we think of our transformation and sanctification, are we thinking about all the rules we must follow, or are we learning about God’s eternal love for us that draws us into a relationship with Him? God is not a God of anger and rage. We serve a God that is full of grace and love. 

“Since we are receiving our rights to an unshakeable kingdom we should be extremely thankful and offer God the purest worship that delights his heart as we lay down our lives in absolute surrender, filled with awe.” - ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭12:28‬ ‭TPT‬‬

We have been freely given the keys to the kingdom, an unshakeable kingdom! When we fully understand this grace and this love that is freely given, it is then when we can walk out and express our thankfulness and live a life of worship and surrender. This is what our calling is, and this is what we were built and created for, to live a life of absolute surrender and worship for our God. And when we read v29, we no longer understand this out of fear; we read this from a place of love, from a place of grace and an understanding of Jesus. 

“for our God is a consuming fire.” - ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭12:29‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Again, David Guzik’s commentary:

Our God is a consuming fire: Since God is in fact a consuming fire, we do best to come to Him on His terms. These are the terms of unmerited approval in Jesus. He will consume all that is outside of that sphere.

i. The truth that God is a consuming fire is a comfort to the believer. They realize that the Father poured out His consuming fire of judgment on the Son in our place. When He did, it completely consumed the guilt of sin in all who believe. The penalty of sin was consumed in Jesus at the cross.

Jesus took it ALL! Every ounce of sin was consumed in Jesus at the cross; He was the pioneer and perfecter of faith. Remember, for the joy set before him, and he endured the cross. 

“fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” - ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭12:2‬ ‭NIV‬‬

How are we seeing and experiencing God? Fear or Joy? God is Love!

“Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love.” - ‭‭1 John‬ ‭4:18‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Step into God’s perfect love today. Receive all the grace that is afforded to you today in Jesus. Mount Zion is a place of joy, love, and forgiveness. An invitation is extended, offered, and free; all you need is the awakening and the eyes to see what is already given to you. Wake up to the grace of Jesus and fully experience God today. Amen. 

other writing
John 20 - The Gospel

John 20 - The Gospel

The Gospel, the Good News! Jesus, Son of God, was born of Mary, lived as the Son of Man, died, and rose to life to rescue the world and bring about a new life. The central message of the gospel. Jesus, the centerpiece! John 19 & 20 cover the brutal death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.

In this scene, I can not imagine how the disciples felt. John describes them as overjoyed...but those words just fall short of what I can imagine this moment was like.

John 19 - The Magnitude of the Cross

John 19 - The Magnitude of the Cross

The day of Jesus' crucifixion fulfilled 28 Old Testament prophecies. Scripture was fulfilled! Beyond that, trying to wrap my mind around what happened this day, on the cross, and fully grabbing the magnitude of the cross is mind-boggling.

Sure, we can dumb this down or simplify it to a place where I just don’t believe it is anywhere near accurate. We can get into penal substitution and argue over was God full of love or was God full of wrath and hate that he killed his son. To me, John 3:16 is pretty clear on the love part.

John 18 - Jesus levels an army

John 18 - Jesus levels an army

In John 18, we come to the great betrayal. Judas came with the soldiers, officials, and chief priest and Pharisees. We know the scene. But this morning, I saw something I don’t remember reading and surly don’t remember learning about.

“So Judas came to the garden, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and the Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons. Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, “Who is it you want?” “Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “I am he,” Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.) When Jesus said, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground.” - ‭‭John‬ ‭18:3-6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

John 17 - The Lords Prayer

John 17 - The Lords Prayer

John 17 is Jesus looking heavenward and praying to God the Father. So much beauty and mystery in this prayer. One thing that jumps out to me is that Jesus, fully God, and fully man prayed. Jesus is God fully. Why did he need to pray, He was One with the Father, He was God...and yet he prayed. This is so powerful;

“And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.” - ‭‭John‬ ‭17:5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

John 16 - What does it take to believe?

John 16 - What does it take to believe?

By the end of John 16, Jesus had done countless miracles, preached some amazing sermons, transformed so many lives, and developed a close and personal relationship with his disciples. So, when reading these verses, I am just utterly confused on so many levels.

“I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.” Then Jesus’ disciples said, “Now you are speaking clearly and without figures of speech. Now we can see that you know all things and that you do not even need to have anyone ask you questions. This makes us believe that you came from God.” “Do you now believe?” Jesus replied.” - ‭‭John‬ ‭16:28-31‬ ‭NIV‬‬

John 16 - Undervaluing God in Spirit

John 16 - Undervaluing God in Spirit

Jesus’ time on earth is quickly coming to a close, and he finishes up his last sermon or teaching to his disciples as they walk to Gethsemane. This final teaching was a heavy one that no doubt left his disciples with a heavy heart. Jesus said it this way;

“...None of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ Rather, you are filled with grief because I have said these things.” - ‭‭John‬ ‭16:5-6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Jesus goes on to say;

John 15 - Constant Growth

John 15 - Constant Growth

We were built for growth, constant growth. From birth, all the way until our death, we were designed by God for constant growth. The problem is, we often can find ourselves stuck in a belief, a phase, or a part of life where we stop growing.

One of the most brilliant investors embodies this understanding. Charlie Munger, at 96 years old, is still learning and growing as a person. I love this quote:

“Knowing what you don’t know is more useful than being brilliant.”
- Charlie Munger

John 14 - The Gift of Peace

John 14 - The Gift of Peace

John 14 opens with Jesus, saying, Don’t let your hearts be troubled. And the chapter closed down with Jesus saying Don’t be troubled or afraid.

A message that needs to resonate with our spirit and our inner self. This was such a good reminder, reading through John 14 over and over. This passage lifted off the screen.

“But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you. “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart…

John 14 - Troubled Hearts

John 14 - Troubled Hearts

The world today seems so volatile and chaotic. Everywhere you look, whatever we read and see on TV just seems to be troubling. Last night, I noticed my lovely wife Tweeted this;

“I can’t be the only one who watches the news and is simply embarrassed right now, right? (Dear Jesus, we tap out. Come on back.)”

I find this first humorous, but then I also find it sad. It’s true, watching the news as a Christ-follower is pretty embarrassing. In John 14, we see Jesus…

John 13 - Unselfish Concern

John 13 - Unselfish Concern

Summarizing John, chapter 13, looks like this. The Lords Supper takes place. Jesus washes the disciple's feet. Jesus calls out Judas, and Satan enters him. Night comes, Judas leaves, and Jesus says he must go, and where I am going, you can not come. To cap it all off, Jesus also calls out Simon Peter and tells him that he will deny and completely disown Jesus three times. Whoa, a really full chapter, and historical day.

Nestled in the wrap up of the day is the parting message Jesus leaves his disciples, a message Jesus is sharing with us right now.

 
thoughtsTerry Storch