How Is Your Gratitude?

June 5th, 2026
by Lance Waldie

Hebrews 12:28-29 Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; 29 for our God is a consuming fire.

The “therefore” in v. 28 draws the author’s argument to a conclusion. Having reminded that God will return to shake the world and burn it with fire at Christ’s return (vv. 26-27), Christians are to be prepared, alert, and ready. When God has completed His final judgments, only they will remain standing and will receive that which cannot be “shaken” (Gr. asaleutos)—an eternal kingdom that is immovable. This is the eternal kingdom of God, ruled over by Jesus Christ.

Scripture says that Christ will return to earth and reign (Matt. 25:31; Rev. 19)—the place where He was rejected. It will not be the same cursed earth from Genesis 3 where sin and death rule; it will be a “new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth [will have] passed away” (Rev. 21:1). Being unshakable means that the new heaven and earth will not be susceptible to the events that transpired in Eden where Adam sinned. The new heaven and earth will be where Jesus reigns over His people, those glorified who will also reign with Him over the people of the Millennium—those who miss the Rapture but come to faith in Christ during the Tribulation—they and their future offspring who will populate the Millennium (Rev. 20).

Now since believers will receive such a kingdom by God’s grace, the author says, “Let us show gratitude”—our continual appreciation of God’s mercy and grace by never losing sight of God’s gift to us in Jesus Christ. It is quite possible that the reason many refuse to think much about heaven today is because they have it too good here on earth! Yet the opposite is also true, for the Hebrews audience illustrates the truth that when life’s trials become too much, believers can forget heaven and long for earthly relief. Continual gratitude is the fruit of true believers.

Gratitude for what Christ has so graciously given allows Christians to “offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe” (v. 28). Reverence for God entails attentiveness, respect, and prudence. If we define awe over God as “timid trepidation of danger,” or reverent “fear” of God, then let every Christian fear God out of respect and timid trepidation of danger. Perhaps one who is continually thankful to God is one who has a healthy regard for Scripture—reading it daily, prioritizing personal and corporate worship, and loving God’s people.

If this is true, then unbelievers truly cannot worship Christ, for true worship comes from a thankful heart over what Christ accomplished on the cross—precisely what unbelievers reject. Unbelievers refuse Christ’s atoning sacrifice; that is why they are unbelievers! Until their eyes are opened, they will never receive God’s grace. Hence, they cannot worship Christ.

True worship is always acceptable to God. In the OT, when animals were offered on the altar of burnt sacrifice, fire consumed it. In reference to “our God is a consuming fire” in v. 29 (cf. Deut. 4:24), God is either going to accept the Christian’s worship or reject it. If our offering is given with reverence and gratitude, God consumes it (cf. 1 Kings 18:38). But note the terror for those who do not offer acceptable worship to God, who fall back into a religion of works to try to gain His approval. For them, God is a “consuming fire” who devours His enemies when He shakes the earth in the end (cf. 10:27; Num. 11:1; 16:35; Ps. 97:3; Isa. 66:15; 2 Thess. 1:8).

Food For Thought
What might God say to modern worship? Today’s irreverent music, shallow teachings, and poor financial giving points to a problem in worship. True worship comes from sacrifice, giving God what He desires, not what makes us feel good. It comes from a thankful heart over all that God has done for us through Christ. If God seeks such (John 4:23), does He seek your worship?