Reverence is an attitudinal trait that is expressed in our actions or inactions. Those who have acted with a careless attitude in certain settings have run into serious troubles and it has cost others very much. Reverence is something well outlined in the Bible and one we need to take seriously. This article is meant to project the need for us to reverence what is delineated as holy. The word reverence is a derivative of the word, ‘revere’. The free dictionary defines the word as follows:
REVERE
Regard with feelings of respect and reverence; consider
hallowed, exalted or be in awe of
= fear, reverence, venerate
The following are some areas where we need to show reverence
1. Reverence for God and His holy name
Many consciously or unconsciously honour the names of their spouses, parents, organisation and national leaders above God’s name. It is an insult to speak carelessly about someone’s parents in derogatory terms in many cultures whereas many sadly use insult God or use His name in vain, something they cannot do to people like them. We are admonished to reverence God and His Holy name. The Sovereignty, purity, power and might of God are some of the factors that should make us stand in awe of God and reverence Him. His should never be taken lightly and neither should His name also. His power is manifested where there is reverence for Him. God’s name is ‘hallowed’.
Matthew 6:9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Fatherwhich art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
Hallowed
Worthy of religious veneration = sacred
Venerate
To regard with deep regard and respect
Exodus 20:7 Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
Psalm 8:1 O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens.
Psalm 89:6-7 For who in the heaven can be compared unto the Lord ? who among the sons of the mighty can be likened unto the Lord ? [7] God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him.
Proverbs 30:8-9 Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: [9] Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the Lord ? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take
the name of my God in vain
Hebrews 12:28-29 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: [29] For our God is a consuming fire.
Our calling is to serve God with the deepest level of honour and ascribe same to His name. God wants us to also reverence the name of His Son, Jesus Christ whom He has bestowed special authority upon
Philippians 2:9-10 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: [10] That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
2. Reverence for God’s sanctuary
Reverence for God’s sanctuary is very important, it is the place of His presence. God’s presence is in the midst of the gathering of His people and we are also God’s sanctuary. Do you consider how you approach God? How to you handle things that have been consecrated to God’s service, the build or objects and equipment within? What is your mindset in relation to the role you have in church, if you are a worker in the church? How do you handle people and financial matters? How do you dress? Is it one to show off, entice or even seduce people?
Leviticus 26:1-2 Ye shall make you no idols nor graven image, neither rear you up a standing image, neither shall ye set up any image of stone in your land, to bow down unto it: for I am the Lord your God. [2] Ye shall keep my sabbaths, and reverence my sanctuary: I am the Lord.
Matthew 21:12-13 And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, [13] And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.
1 Samuel 2:27-29 And there came a man of God unto Eli, and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Did I plainly appear unto the house of thy father, when they were in Egypt in Pharaoh's house? [28] And did I choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to offer upon mine altar, to burn incense, to wear an ephod before me? and did I give unto the house of thy father all the offerings made by fire of the children of Israel? [29] Wherefore kick ye at my sacrifice and at mine offering, which I have commanded in my habitation; and honourest thy sons above me, to make yourselves fat with the chiefest of all the offerings of Israel my people?
Ecclesiastes 5:1 Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil.
1 Timothy 3:14-16 These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly: [15] But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. [16] And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
How you approach God and present yourself matters to Him. Your attitude towards His sanctuary is important. Many no longer care how they speak, dress or conduct themselves when they gather before God.
1 Corinthians 3:16-17 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? [17] If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
1 Peter 2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
3. Reverence for the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit, the third person in the triune God we serve, is one to be accord reverence. He role in our relationship with God, is undeniably indispensable. He is the one who convicts our heart and brings us to the place of repentance before God. He is the one who helps to keep our conscience alive and in sync with God. He counsels those who are ready to hear, the Holy Spirit teaches and gives direction.
He comforts, empowers and endows with His gifts and enables those who have surrendered to follow Christ, grow character traits that are Christlike. We cannot afford to grieve Him. Anyone who fails to yield to what His voice and stubbornly continue in sin grieves the Holy Spirit
Ephesians 4:30-31 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. [31] Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
Matthew 12:31 Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.
The role of the Holy Spirit is to convicts unto repentance
John 16:7-9 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. [8] And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: [9] Of sin, because they believe not on me;
However, when a person continues resistance to the truth of the gospel, steadfastness in sin and unrepentant heart, He/she abuses the authority and work of the Holy Spirit and tramples on the grace that would have been supplied.
Ephesians 2:5-8 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) [6] And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: [7] That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. [8] For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
4. Reverence for God’s words
God’s words are sacred. The Bible tells us that God has exalted His words even above His name (Psalm 138:2). Different translations have varying interpretations about this verse but they all point to one thing, that God’s nature and power is reflected in His words. Thus, if we reverence God, we must also translate such deep honour to what He has said, we should trust it and hold steadfastly to it. The word of God can alter situations, build up or tear down, make alive or kill, encourage, transform, convict, enlighten, direct etc. We encounter the power inherent in God’s words when we relate in obedience whilst humbling ourselves before God.
Isaiah 66:2 For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the Lord : but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.
Ezra 9:4 Then were assembled unto me every one that trembled at the words of the God of Israel, because of the transgression of those that had been carried away; and I sat astonied until the evening sacrifice.
John 6:63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.
Lastly, it is important to acknowledge and daily reverence Jesus’ sacrifice.
5. Reverence for the sacrifice on the cross and Communion
Jesus Christ paid the ultimate sacrifice, He voluntarily allowed Himself to be tortured and crucified like a common criminal. The shedding of His blood was the once and for all sacrifice that would wash away the sins of any who confesses Him as Lord and Saviour. This is why Jesus Christ and the sacrifice must be reverenced. We reverence Jesus Christ and His sacrifice on the cross when we deliberated choose to obey what God has outlined as His standard. When we live with the primary motivation to live as Christ lived, we bring honour to Him and to His Father, our Almighty God. Jesus Christ, left the church an important tradition, the Lord’s Supper or Communion. This was done to help us regularly commemorate His death and the sacrifice
Romans 6:1-6 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? [2] God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? [3] Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? [4] Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. [5] For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: [6] Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
Hebrews 6:4-6 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, [5] And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, [6] If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.
1 Corinthians 11:28-30 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. [29] For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. [30] For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.
It pays to reverence God and translate same to everything that is associated with Him. This is the only way anyone one who is willing to experience an unfolding and unending wonders as they deliberately choose to walk with God. May the Holy Spirit give you the grace to succeed in this.