Seized to Be A Thankful Receiver

Key Verse

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe...
Hebrews 12:28 (NIV)

Short Reflection

We who are followers of Jesus are receiving a kingdom that is permanent and unchanging. This kingdom of Jesus Christ, frequently termed the kingdom of God and the kingdom of heaven, will never will pass away because in it God reigns among men and women. He reigns in the hearts of the people that believe, and His kingdom is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. Earthly governments fail, suffer revolutions, or change leadership, but not the kingdom of Christ.

Our key verse encourages us to “worship God acceptably with reverence and awe”. What is reverence? It is our inner sense of who God is, His greatness, and leads to great respect for Him. With such reverence, we regard ourselves as citizens of an everlasting kingdom; with such reverence, we live in gratitude.

To live in gratitude is not a single act of thanks, but a way of heart and life, a continuous awareness of our dependence on a great God. Gratitude leads to great joy and desire to please God, for He deserves all of our praise and thanksgiving. Indeed the Lord is gracious. He even sacrificed Himself on the cross to save us, to save us from hell, to save us from sickness and pain. With such great love, we understand now that we should give Him, Jesus, an offering of praise and that we should worship Him with awe.

Therefore, as our key verse states, may you be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and may you offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe. To God be all the glory!

Jesus has seized you to be a thankful receiver!

This is the fifth in the “Seized to Be A Citizen of Heaven” series of blog posts and is a special submission from Jervie Magat, a PEER Servants volunteer from the Philippines and our Global Co-Director for PEER Teens.