Our reverence for God shows our depth and reveals our capacity to receive. So what does it mean to have reverence? The dictionary defines it as having awe or respect for a person or place. It is respectful submission or yielding to the judgment, opinion, will, or even the courteous regard of another. In this case, our reverence is for God and the things of God.
The writer of Hebrews said, “See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they [the children of Israel] did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven, whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, ‘Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven.’ Now this, ‘Yet once more,’ indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire” (Hebrews 12:25-29).
When Moses was called to the mountain, great fear and trembling consumed him. The power and presence of God put him in reverent and holy fear of the Creator. Yet the children of Israel, God’s own people, did not share in Moses’ reverence. And this is a warning to us now. Not only does God desire our reverence, but without it, we limit the power of God at work in our lives.
Many people assume they have reverence for God, yet His power is not evident. I’m not simply referring to miracle-working power… God’s power is seen in our love walk as well. How can we claim to have reverence for God when we cuss and slander another? Where is the respect and courteous regard for God and His Word when our behavior contradicts scripture? No matter how much a person attempts to justify their actions, the old saying rings true: ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS.
We must give close attention to God’s instruction for His Body. For example, Paul told Titus, “But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine: that the older men be sober, reverent, temperate, sound in faith, in love, in patience; the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things— that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed. Likewise, exhort the young men to be sober-minded, in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you” (Titus 2:1:8). Three times in this passage, Paul speaks of reverence — yet not direct reverence of God, as in worship on bended knees with uplifted hands — but the reverence that comes from deep within the true followers of Christ as seen in their actions.
The depth of a tree is revealed after the storm. We may not be able to see its root system, but the mere fact that it is standing afterwards is an indicator of what lies beneath the surface. In the same way, it’s not how a person acts or behaves at church, or among other believers only, that determines their depth of reverence for God. It is after the shaking – what will remain?
Paul told Titus that slander must not be present among us. This is important to note because slander is the complete opposite of reverence. Defined as false statements, backbiting, or belittlement, slander is ungodly. We would assume this behavior is only found in the world among unbelievers, yet Paul warned both Titus and Timothy that slander would be found among God’s people. “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, [and] lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God” (2 Timothy 3:1-4). Sounds like the days we live in now, doesn’t it?
But before you think Paul was describing the world of unbelievers… keep reading. “[These are those] having a form of godliness but denying its power” (2 Timothy 3:5). The Amplified Bible says, “For [although] they hold a form of piety (true religion), they deny and reject and are strangers to the power of it [their conduct contradicting the genuineness of their profession].” Sadly, God’s own people can have a form of godliness (in word and deed) and yet deny the power of God by the very same.
And on that note, many have even questioned God’s provision for His children, never realizing their struggles may be a direct result of their lack of reverence and gratitude. “Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him” (Psalm 34:9). Our reverence for God reveals our capacity to receive of His goodness, mercy, and provision. He pours in to those who are not full of doubt, unbelief, ridicule, contempt, or any such thing. Even the tiniest amount of such displaces what could be filled with Him. Instead, we are called to “…serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.” And this includes our treatment and judgment of others birthed out of our respect for God. So let’s let Him be the all-consuming fire – not us.