In what ways can we apply the principle of reverence from Exodus 29:34 today? Setting the Scene “ ‘And if any of the flesh of the ordination or of the bread remains until morning, you are to burn up the remainder. It must not be eaten, because it is holy.’ ” (Exodus 29:34) The Principle Behind the Command • Holy things are not to be recycled into common use. • What God claims as His own must remain set apart (cf. Leviticus 10:1–3; Malachi 1:6–8). • Reverence flows from recognizing and responding to God’s holiness (Hebrews 12:28–29). Why It Still Matters • God has not become less holy (Psalm 89:7). • Believers are now a “royal priesthood” (1 Peter 2:9); priestly respect still applies. • Christ’s sacrifice fulfilled the ritual, but the attitude of awe remains (Hebrews 10:19–22). Practicing Reverence in Personal Worship • Guard your devotional time. Treat it as an appointment, not an add-on. • Handle Scripture carefully—read it attentively, refuse to twist or trivialize it (2 Timothy 2:15). • Examine your heart before the Lord’s Supper (1 Corinthians 11:27–29). • Keep a clean conscience—unconfessed sin dulls reverence. Reverence in Corporate Gatherings • Arrive prepared—pray beforehand, silence distractions, expect to meet God. • Sing and listen with intention; worship is not background music (Colossians 3:16). • Treat the church facility respectfully; though bricks are not holy in themselves, what happens there is sacred. • Give offerings thoughtfully, not as leftover change (Proverbs 3:9). Reverence Through Speech • Avoid careless “God talk” or humor that demeans sacred truths (Matthew 12:36). • Speak Scripture accurately; resist quoting snippets out of context. • Use the Lord’s name only in worshipful or truthful ways (Exodus 20:7). Reverence in Daily Living • Steward your body as God’s temple (1 Corinthians 6:19–20). • Guard media intake; what you watch or stream can dull sensitivity to holiness. • Schedule rest—neglecting Sabbath rhythms turns holy time into common time (Mark 2:27). • Serve others as ministry unto Christ, not for self-promotion (Colossians 3:23–24). What We Burn Today • Casualness toward sin—repent quickly, don’t let it “remain until morning.” • Cynicism about worship—offer fresh devotion, not stale leftovers. • Divided loyalties—remove anything that competes with wholehearted love for God (James 4:4). Living It Out Reverence is practical: it touches calendars, wallets, screens, conversations, and motives. By intentionally setting apart what belongs to God—time, treasures, talents, and thoughts—we honor the same holiness that, in Exodus 29:34, demanded that consecrated leftovers be consumed by fire rather than consumed casually. |
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