In The Word
Read: Hebrews 12:18-29
Contrast of Sinai and Zion
18 For you have not come to a mountain that can be touched and to a blazing fire, and to darkness and gloom and whirlwind, 19 and to the blast of a trumpet and the sound of words which sound was such that those who heard begged that no further word be spoken to them. 20 For they could not bear the command, “If even a beast touches the mountain, it will be stoned.” 21 And so terrible was the sight, thatMoses said, “I am full of fear and trembling.” 22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels,23 to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks better than the blood of Abel.
The Unshaken Kingdom
25 See to it that you do not refuse Him who is speaking. For if those did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape who turn away from Him who warns from heaven. 26 And His voice shook the earth then, but now He has promised, saying, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth, but also the heaven.” 27 This expression, “Yet once more,” denotes the removing of those things which can be shaken, as of created things, so that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; 29 for our God is a consuming fire.
New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
Walking In The Word
Hebrews 12:18-19 says, “For you have not come to a mountain that can be touched and to a blazing fire, and to darkness and gloom and whirlwind and to the blast of trumpet and the sound of words which sound was such that those who heard begged that no further word be spoken to them.”
What an amazing contrast between Mount Sinai and Mount Zion we see in in this passage of scripture. Mount Zion was a mountain of wrath, a mountain which the children of Israel feared for their lives. They had such a horrific experience with this mountain that they begged that the Lord would not speak to them except through Moses. They knew there was a price to pay for their disobedience to the Lord, which is why they didn’t want to face the Lord.
On the other hand, we have been called to Mount Zion, the city of the living God. We are on a mountain of grace, a mountain where Jesus is our mediator as well as our intercessor. There is life in Mount Zion; all sins are forgiven through Jesus Christ. We become a new creation through Him and are reconciled with the Father again. There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, and there is forgiveness for those who confess with their mouth that Jesus is Lord (Romans 8:1, Romans 10:1).
Do you sometimes feel condemned because of your sins? Confess your sin and receive your forgiveness and grace through Jesus Christ