The throne of God is a dangerous thing.
one who swears by heaven swears by the throne of God
and by him who is seated on it."
We may know better than to treat God casually. But this is just what the scribes and Pharisees offer. They guide people with bad practice about oaths where they can supposedly swear on less important things so as to not be wholly obligated. In this way, they think, they can receive the benefits of credibility from swearing without the fearfulness of making a promise before God.
If oaths aren't a common concern for us today in what other ways are trying to engage God only indirectly in order to avoid his full fearful and awesome presence? When are we afraid to fully involve his name and his title in our lives, yet still seek the benefits of his blessings just the same?
The LORD doesn't want to be only partially involved in our lives. He doesn't want to be only hinted at or implied. He wants us to engage him directly. We're reluctant because we see the commitment this entails. It is not that it takes a certain amount of time, necessarily. But it does take a certain amount of focus. It takes a certain amount of disconnect from everything else around us. It can be legitimately frightening to give the LORD this much room within us.
Only when we engage our awesome God directly, responding to the invitation he gives, do we discover a faith that endures in persecutions and afflictions. When we do more than hint at God we can truly rely on him. When he is more than implied in our thought we can trust him. In faith we are entirely careful about the things with which we associate his name.
When we abandon the need to sustain our own poorly devised oaths we become free to stand on the promises God gives us.
We always pray for you,
that our God may make you worthy of his calling
and powerfully bring to fulfillment every good purpose
and every effort of faith,
that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you,
and you in him,
in accord with the grace of our God and Lord Jesus Christ.
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