When God Is a Consuming Fire

Text: Hebrews 12:12-29

Reflection and Question: Having had some experience as a preacher and a lot of experience listening to sermons, I recognize in this Hebrews passage a certain preaching style of throwing out lots of images with the hope that one might strike a chord and carry one’s point into the very soul of the listener. The image that strikes me most here is “the blazing fire” that cannot be touched. In fact, God is that blazing, consuming fire who inspires gratitude, energy, repentance, reverence and awe. And certainly cannot be touched. Among the images in this passage, what strikes you most and why?

Prayer: Eternal and most loving God, lift up our drooping hands and strengthen our weak knees so that we may run the race with all our might on the paths You set before us. Heal us by Your grace. May all we do be acceptable in Your sight. Amen.

This meditation is based on the Daily Lectionary Year 2 from the Book of Common Worship for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) (1993).