Wednesday, August 9, 2017

Are You Being Shaken?

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“‘Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens’. This phrase , ‘Yet once more’, indicates the removal of things that are shaken - that is, things that have been made - in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain.Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.” Hebrews 12:26b-29

There is a shaking going on in our world. Can you feel it?

The writer of the letter to the Hebrews is referencing a prophecy from the prophet Haggai (Haggai 2:6), which is referring to the “consummation” of history and God’s final rule being established on earth. Until that time, God is “shaking” the earth like a sieve, until only those things which cannot be shaken remain.

As (I hope) a sincere Christian, I can feel this “shaking” going on in my life on an ever increasing level. The Holy Spirit speaks to me, and to His people, that we need to get rid of things in our life that do not lead us or others to God. The bible warns us to “make the best use of the time, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:16), and the days are certainly evil. Anyone who does not see this is spiritually blind.

Does this mean we don’t have any fun and that we can’t enjoy God’s creation? Of course not, that is one of the lies of the devil. But it does mean we need to closely heed the voice of the Holy Spirit, who gently speaks to us to lead us away from things (even apparently “good” things) that are not of Him. Things we may be led to stay away from may appear foolish to others, even to other Christians, but ultimately it is the Lord’s opinion that counts, and we can depend on His Spirit indwelling us to stay strong and without fear in the face of misunderstanding and even ridicule.

Are you allowing God to shake you?

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