How Can I Better Know God?
Growing in Reverence and Awe
In a noisy, distracted world, many Christians long for a deeper relationship with God. We read devotionals, attend church, attend prayer, and yet feel something is missing. We know about God, but do we truly know Him—His heart, His voice, His transforming presence in our daily lives?
The Bible gives a clear, countercultural answer: To know God more intimately, we must grow in reverence and awe toward His holiness. This isn't about fear in the sense of terror, but a profound respect and wonder that acknowledges God as holy, majestic, and worthy. Hebrews 12:28–29 captures this perfectly: "… let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire."
This verse comes at the end of Hebrews 12, where the author contrasts the terrifying Mount Sinai of the old covenant with the joyful Mount Zion of the new—yet the conclusion is the same: God remains a consuming fire. Grace through Jesus doesn't soften or diminish His holiness; it amplifies it. We are invited near through Christ's blood (Hebrews 10:19–22), but we must approach with heightened reverence and awe. The kingdom we receive is unshakable—eternal, secure, and rooted in Christ's reign. No trial, power, or final shaking (Haggai 2:6) can topple it. Gratitude for this reality fuels worship that honors God rightly.
Why does reverence matter so much? Because casual or presumptuous approaches dull our spiritual senses. Scripture warns us through vivid examples. Nadab and Abihu, Aaron's sons, offered "unauthorized fire" before the Lord (Leviticus 10:1–3)—a self-directed act of worship not commanded by God. Fire from His presence consumed them. God declared, "Among those who are near me I will be sanctified"—He will be treated as holy, or He will prove Himself holy through judgment.
Uzzah's story echoes this. The Ark of the Covenant, symbol of God's presence, rested in his father Abinadab's house for decades—likely 40–70 years or more, including 20 years highlighted in 1 Samuel 7:2. Uzzah grew up with the holy object in his home, yet when David moved it improperly on a cart (imitating the Philistines), Uzzah reached out to steady it and was struck dead (2 Samuel 6:6–7). The Philistines, as outsiders ignorant of God's law, faced plagues but not the same immediate judgment. Uzzah, an insider who knew better, presumed. Familiarity bred irreverence.
In the New Testament, Ananias and Sapphira lied about their offering in the early church, pretending greater devotion than they had (Acts 5:1–11). They approached God's Spirit-filled community with hypocrisy and fell dead. These stories aren't about a harsh God—they reveal His unchanging holiness. Those nearest Him bear stricter accountability.
Jesus reinforces this in Matthew 13:12: "To the one who has, more will be given... but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away." In the Parable of the Sower, receptive hearts (like the disciples who pressed in with faith) receive abundance. Reverence and awe are how we "have" God's revelation—we steward it humbly, so He pours out deeper insight and intimacy. Casualness treats truth lightly, leading to spiritual dullness.
The good news? Reverence and awe can be cultivated. Start with meditation on God's holiness: Read Isaiah 6 (the throne-room vision where Isaiah cried, "Woe is me!") or Revelation 4–5 (ceaseless worship around the throne). Let these passages sink in—God's majesty, purity, and worthiness spark wonder.
Approach worship intentionally. Prepare your heart before church: Confess sin, pray for focus, read Scripture (Psalm 24:3–4). In gatherings, participate fully—sing to the Lord, listen hungrily, pray earnestly. Minimize distractions; treat His presence as holy. Daily, cultivate awe through obedience: Confess quickly, pursue purity (Hebrews 12:14), and serve with trembling joy (Psalm 2:11).
Pray for it: Ask the Spirit to deepen your fear of the Lord. Surround yourself with believers who exalt God. As you respond to truth with reverence, God multiplies—clearer revelation, vivid encounters, transformed lives.
This isn't legalism; it's the path grace invites us to walk. The consuming fire who judges sin also purifies and draws near through Christ. In a casual age, choose awe. Examine your heart: Are you approaching God flippantly or reverently? Steward what you have—He promises abundance (Matthew 13:12).
May we offer worship with reverence and awe, knowing the unshakable kingdom is ours. In that posture, we truly come to know God—not just about Him, but Him Himself—in all His holy, glorious wonder.