Articles
Reverence For God
God expects His saints to reverence Him. “God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be held in reverence by all those around Him” (Psalm 89:7). In fact, when the people of God did not they were rebuked and condemned by Him. “A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then I am the Father, Where is My honor? And if I am a Master, Where is My reverence? Says the LORD of hosts” (Malachi 1:6).
God expects us to show reverence for Him in our worship of Him (Ps. 5:7; 29:2; 86:9; 95:6; 96:9; Rev. 14:6-7; 15:4). Jesus taught that: “true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him” (John 4:23). A true reverence for God will produce within us both the proper attitude (spirit) towards God as well as worship that is in accordance with His truth (John 17:17; Col. 3:17).
Of course, anyone can claim to praise, honor, and reverence God in their worship, and still their heart be far from Him. No matter how full of sincerity and zeal the worshiper may be, their worship is rendered vain if they teach as doctrines the commandments of men (Matt. 15:7-9; cf. Rom. 10:1-3).
Let’s briefly notice two Old Testament examples that remind us just how important it is for us to show God reverence. (1) Cain and Abel in Genesis 4:3-7. Both brothers brought an offering to God. God respected Abel’s sacrifice, but not Cain’s. Why? God rejected Cain’s worship because he did not offer what God had instructed (Heb. 11:4). God said he would be accepted if he did well. He did not worship God with the right spirit or according to revealed truth. (2) Nadab and Abihu in Leviticus 10:1-3. Notice how they used profane fire to burn incense to God. It was a fire that God had not commanded them to use in their worship. In showing such disregard for God’s specific instructions they did not regard God as holy or glorify Him, so fire was sent down from heaven to devour them.
It matters how we worship God today. We cannot just offer worship the way we think, feel, or desire and expect it to be acceptable to Him (Proverbs 3:5-7; 14:12). We must worship Him with reverence by only following the New Testament pattern of worship (2 Tim. 1:13; I Cor. 4:17; Acts 2:42; 20:7; I Cor. 16:2; Eph. 5:19). Additions or subtractions to the NT acts of worship are strictly forbidden (Gal. 1:6-9; Rev. 22:18-19).
Not only is reverence for God expected, it is required. We only serve God acceptably when it is with reverence and godly fear (Heb. 12:28).
