Reverence for God – Casual Familiarity vs Reverent Obedience (365/3)
- Preethi Alice Jacob
- Jan 20
- 2 min read
There’s a delicate balance between familiarity and reverence. In our daily routines, it’s easy to grow comfortable—so comfortable that the sacred becomes ordinary. Our hearts can grow numb to the holiness of God when we forget to approach Him with fresh awe and respect. This over-familiarity can quietly reduce our awareness of His presence in everyday life.
The story of Uzzah in 2 Samuel 6 highlights this tension.
As the ark of the covenant was being brought into Jerusalem, Uzzah reached out his hand to steady it when the oxen stumbled. While his intention was good, Scripture tells us: “And when they came to the threshing floor of Kidon, Uzzah put out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen stumbled. Then the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah, and God struck him down there because of his error; and he died there by the ark of God.” (2 Samuel 6:6-7, NKJV)
Uzzah’s fatal act was more than a reflex—it was the manifestation of a grave error in his thinking. In that critical moment, he disregarded God’s clear command in favor of what seemed right to him. He assumed that the ark of God was no different from any other valuable object, that God needed his help to protect it, and that his own hand was somehow more holy than the ground where it stood. As Maclaren observes, “His intention to help was right enough; but there was a profound insensibility to the awful sacredness of the ark.” Uzzah’s tragic death stands as a stark reminder that we must approach God with reverent obedience, not casual familiarity.
Today, how often do we become so used to the “routine” of our faith that we lose sight of God’s majesty? Perhaps prayer feels like a checklist, worship a habit, or Scripture reading just another daily task. When over-familiarity dulls our sensitivity, we risk drifting from the awe and respect God desires.
Pause and Ponder
Where might I have grown too comfortable in my daily walk with God, losing sight of His holiness?
How does this affect my attentiveness and openness to His guidance?
What steps can I take to renew a heart of reverence and wonder in everyday moments?
God calls us to approach Him with respect and humility, recognizing His holy presence not just in big moments but in daily life. When we guard our hearts against casualness, we open ourselves to deeper awareness and a more vibrant relationship with Him.
Lord, guard my heart from over-familiarity and dullness. Renew in me a spirit of reverence and awe, so I may honor Your holiness in every moment. Amen.
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