Familiarity is everywhere today. Most people ignore the honorifics and formalities that once governed our interactions. Few, if any, of the people that my Dad served as a minister ever addressed him as “Jerry.” He was Pastor Scott, to all. Dad’s generation worked harder at maintaining the formalities. For example, Dad wouldn’t have stepped into the pulpit without a dark suit and a tie, ever! He seldom disclosed his personal struggles and thus, appeared to many as ‘larger than life.’ By contrast, I go to the office in jeans and sweatshirt at least once a week, often wear an open shirt in pulpit, and people probably know too much about my humanity. Even some children in our congregation speak to me by my first name. But, that familiarity can complicate my ability to minister especially if it hinders spiritual correction or when it is misunderstood as a lack of holiness.
In 1 Samuel some of the young men in the holy ministry became too familiar with godly things. When the people came to make their sacrifices, the young priests took the best for themselves, abused the people, and enriched themselves at God’s expense! "This sin of the young men was very great in the Lord’s sight, for they were treating the Lord’s offering with contempt." (1 Samuel 2:17, NIV) Could the same happen to us in our age of informality? I think it’s great that conversational prayer is now the norm for Christians I know. Most of them do not even know that just a generation ago, it was almost unheard of to talk to God in ordinary everyday language! But, is it a good thing that many have no idea how to ponder His majesty deeply and shape prayers that are something more than sentiment expressed ‘off the cuff?’ I think it’s right that we understand that church is not God’s house! We are His temples, the church just a gathering place for the people of God. But, have we lost something by having fewer ‘holy places’ that call us from the commerce of everyday life to think higher thoughts?
With familiarity comes the risk of forgetting the high calling of serving the Living God.
There is not much awe in our worship of the Living Lord. I am too often guilty of rushing into His presence, whether privately or in corporate gatherings, with a list of demands. Sometimes I attend to worship of the Creator of the Universe while thinking about the deadlines that are pressing in on me. A low view of God will certainly steal our awe, turning the Lord of Glory into the Divine Buddy, the Dispenser of the Doodads! When was the last time you sat in the Presence of the Lord with a crushing sense of His awesomeness? When was the last time that instead of turning up the volume of the music, you felt only like contemplating His Person in silence?
Ponder these words -
"Great is the Lord! He is most worthy of praise! He is to be revered above all the gods.
The gods of other nations are merely idols, but the Lord made the heavens!
Honor and majesty surround him; strength and beauty are in his sanctuary. ...
Worship the Lord in all his holy splendor. Let all the earth tremble before him." (Psalm 96:4-6, 9 NLT)
Jesus Christ loves us. He walks with us. The Holy Spirit comforts us. This is no argument for turning God into a remote, unapproachable Person. And yet, we must balance our familiarity with the Lord with a Biblical awe which Proverbs reminds us is the fountainhead of wisdom! (1.7) Remember, even in the New Testament, the same Jesus who held children in his arms, who extended forgiveness to an adulterous woman, and who fed hungry crowds, is also revealed as being "in a robe and gold breastplate, hair a blizzard of white, Eyes pouring fire-blaze, both feet furnace-fired bronze, His voice a cataract, right hand holding the Seven Stars, His mouth a sharp-biting sword, his face a perigee sun." (Revelation 1:13-16, The Message) When John saw this vision of Him, he reports "When I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead." (Revelation 1:17, NLT) Jesus touched John and told him not to be overcome with terror! But there was real awe!
Disciple, recapture and nurture your awe of God! From time to time, read those passages in Isaiah or Revelation that invite us into Heaven’s Throne Room. Do not be resistant to the language that defies easy comprehension or images that are frightening. These visions are there so that we will not make Him too small. Yes, love Him as your Friend. Yes, come near to Him in full confidence of faith, but remember He is the Lord of Glory. The truth is that our Brother, our Savior, our Friend will be our Judge. With perfect justice and complete insight, He will evaluate every thought, every action, every motive without apology or allowing excuse. He is All-Knowing, All-powerful, Present Everywhere, King and Lord above all gods!
Ponder this word from the Word. As you do, note the juxtaposition of familiarity and awe in this passage.
"For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable.
So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most." (Hebrews 4:12-16, NLT)
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You are beautiful beyond description,
Too marvelous for words,
Too wonderful for comprehension,
Like nothing ever seen or heard.
Who can grasp Your infinite wisdom,
Who can fathom the depth of Your love?
You are beautiful beyond description,
Majesty enthroned above.
And I stand, I stand in awe of You.
I stand, I stand in awe of You.
Holy God, to whom all praise is due,
I stand in awe of You.
C 1987 People Of Destiny International (Admin. by PDI Ministries) CCLI
License No. 810055
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