Two Sides of God

In today's readings we were treated to scenes that were in such stark contrast to each other. In Exodus 19 we saw a holy God coming down upon the mountain to meet with His people. His appearance was accompanied by thunder and lighting, a thick cloud and very loud trumpet blasts. God descended upon the mountain wrapped in smoke, with fire shooting up into the heavens, causing not only the mountain to tremble but also the people. This was a demonstration of the holiness of God which was designed to cause the people to fear the Lord and to walk in His ways.
In contrast we have the scene of Jesus eating the passover with His disciples. He tells them that He has earnestly desired to eat this meal with them. He passes the cup, and He breaks bread, reminding them that He must suffer for them, and that He will not drink the fruit of the vine again until the kingdom comes. It is a sweet moment between the Lord and His group of learners.
Then Jesus goes out with his disciples and tries to prepare them for what is coming. He corrects their thinking about greatness, prepares Peter for his fall, prays regarding the cup He is about to partake of, then offers Himself to the religious rulers who would take Him and nail Him to a tree. It is interesting that the One who has power to shake the mountains, meekly allows Himself to be taken to His death. What a different demonstration of God's holy presence, yet I think its design is the same - to encourage the people to fear the Lord and walk in His ways.
In 2 Corinthains 7 Paul, referring back to the promise of God to dwell among man, to make them His people and to be their God, concludes that the proper response is to "cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bring holiness to completion in the fear of God." The fact that a holy, but incomprehensibly loving God wants to make His dwelling among us, should encourage us to live, by His grace, in a way that reflects and befits His holy nature.
May the God who said he wants to make us His treasured possession, a kingdom of priests and a holy nation (something Peter applies to Christians today) grant us all grace to fear the Lord and out of love for God to walk in His ways.