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Familiarity Breeds Contempt (Issue 24)
Uzzah grew up around God's ark. Familiarity made him forget it was holy. One touch killed him. We've made the same mistake—comfortable with God, casual with holiness. It's killing our faith.

Welcome, Family
Uzzah died trying to help God.
He grew up with the Ark of the Covenant in his house for 20 years. When the ox stumbled and the ark tilted, Uzzah reached out to steady it.
"The Lord's anger burned against Uzzah because of his irreverent act; therefore God struck him down, and he died there beside the ark of God"
Instant death. For trying to help.
Familiarity breeds contempt—Uzzah's unthinking irreverence cost him everything. He forgot the ark was holy.
Modern Christianity has the same disease.
We call Jesus our "homeboy." We treat prayer like texting. We skip church when tired. We've reduced the Almighty to our buddy.
Church membership dipped below 50% for the first time in 80 years. 16% who attended pre-COVID don't attend at all now.

Source: Churchtrac
We're not leaving because we hate God—we're leaving because we're too comfortable with Him.
If your Christianity is casual, convenient, comfortable—wake up.
Reserve your spot for Friday's Bible study on what it truly means to fear God. Not terror. Reverent awe that transforms everything.
🆕 First time here? - Come As You Are is your weekly dose of community, Scripture, and real talk that cuts through religious noise to find authentic faith.
🍞 This Week's Bread
⏳ The Sign: $928M for Notre Dame, but we won't give God an hour
đź“– The Word: What it means to fear the God who knows you're dust
🌍 The Witness: Uzzah's death—when familiarity kills
🔥 The Work: Three questions revealing if you've lost holy fear
⚡ Midweek Power: Wednesday prayer for holy reverence
🙏 Prayer Corner: Repenting casual Christianity
📚 This Week's (Virtual) Bible Study
Friday, October 10th (8-10 PM ET)
[🔗 Join Live Study] | [📱 Request Replay Link]
Can't make it live? We'll send you the recording!
⏳ The Sign

Source:
Two stories. Two extremes.
2024 after the 2019 fire. $928 million. 2,000 workers. Meticulous attention to every sacred detail. Absolute reverence for that building.
Meanwhile: Church membership below 50% for first time in 80 years. Three in 10 Americans attend church, down from seven in 10 two decades ago.
We'll spend a billion restoring a building but won't spend an hour with God.
We'll marvel at sacred architecture but won't tremble at God's holiness.
Uzzah's problem is our problem. Twenty years with the ark made it ordinary. Until he forgot it was holy—and paid with his life.
We've done the same. We've become so familiar with God, we've forgotten He's holy.

Church Attendance Rates
We sing about His love while ignoring His holiness. We claim His promises while rejecting His commands. We want benefits without lordship.
This is casual Christianity—and it's killing the church.
đź“– The Word
"For he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust."
God knows we're dust. His compassion is infinite.
AND we're all sinners. Our best righteousness is filthy rags.
Both truths matter.
Only compassion? You lose the fear of God. You think sin doesn't matter because "God understands."
"There is not a righteous man on earth who does what is right and never sins."
Only sinfulness? You lose gospel hope. You think you can never be good enough.
Biblical fear of God holds both:
God is compassionate enough to know we're dust—that's why Jesus gave His life for all lives past and future.
"All our righteous acts are like filthy rags."
God is holy enough to demand reverence—that's why Uzzah died for touching what was untouchable.
Fear of the Lord isn't terror—it's appropriate reverence for who God actually is.
The same God who calls you "beloved" also calls you to holiness. The same God who forgives sin also hates sin. The same God who died for you demands you live for Him.
Exodus 33-34: Moses asked to see God's glory. God said, "You cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live" (33:20).
When was the last time God's holiness overwhelmed you? When did His presence leave you trembling? When did you feel completely undone?
If you can't remember, you've lost the fear of the Lord.
"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."
Jesus gave His life so we approach the throne with confidence—but confidence doesn't mean casualness.
The least we can do is follow His Word. Not from fear of punishment, but from reverent awe.
🌍 The Witness

Courtesy of http://www.sgeorgiastreet.church
The ark was in Abinadab's house for 20 years.
Uzzah and Ahio grew up with it. It was just... there. Familiarity doesn't make something less holy—but it makes us less reverent.
God's instructions were clear: the ark must be carried on poles by Levites. No one touches it (Numbers 4:15).
But David put it on a cart pulled by oxen—the Philistine method. They treated God's holiness with pagan methods.
When the ox stumbled, Uzzah's reflex revealed his heart:
He thought the ark needed his help. He thought his hand was clean enough. He thought familiarity gave him permission.
He was wrong.
God struck him down on the spot. Not for malice. Not for rebellion. For casualness with what was holy.
David was angry—"How can the ark ever come to me?" (2 Samuel 6:9). He didn't understand why God would kill someone with good intentions.
That's the point: good intentions mean nothing when you've lost the fear of God.
Three months later, David tried again—God's way. Levites carried it. Every six steps, sacrifice. David danced with all his might.
The difference? David regained the fear of the Lord.
Uzzah's death wasn't cruel—it was instructive. You don't approach God casually, even with good intentions.
🔥 The Work

Source: SayItAintSEO
Three honest questions:
1. Do I treat God like He's lucky to have me?
Do you approach God with demands or worship? Complain when prayers aren't answered your way? Negotiate with His commands?
If you think God needs you more than you need Him, you've lost the fear of the Lord.
Uzzah thought the ark needed his help. We think God needs our service, gifts, presence.
God doesn't need anything from you. But you need Him for every breath.
2. When did God's holiness last overwhelm me?
Your last worship experience: Reverent awe or emotional entertainment? Trembling at holiness or enjoying music?
If it's all warm fuzzies and no holy trembling, you've lost the fear of the Lord.
God is love AND holy. Compassionate AND terrifying. Gracious AND demanding reverence.
3. Does my obedience reflect convenience or commitment?
Look at actual behavior. Obey when convenient, ignore when costly? Follow His Word when it aligns with desires, negotiate when it doesn't?
If obedience is conditional, you've lost the fear of the Lord.
Jesus gave His life for all lives ever. The least we can do is follow His Word—not when easy, but because He's worthy.
⚡ Midweek Power
Wednesday night (October 8th, 8-9 PM ET): Restoration of holy reverence
Pray for:
Hearts trembling at God's holiness
Repentance for treating God casually
Restoration of reverent worship
Fear of the Lord in this generation
đź“… Set your reminder!
🙏 PRAYER CORNER
Interceding for:
Believers who've lost the fear of God
Churches treating worship as entertainment
Hearts needing to encounter God's holiness
A generation that's never trembled before the Lord
Those who haven't accepted Jesus as Savior
đź“… What's Next
Friday, October 10th (8-10 PM ET):
[🔗 Join Live Study] | [📱 Request Replay Link]

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📣 Take Action:
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✝️ Final Word
Uzzah's death wasn't cruel—it was necessary.
Someone had to die to teach a generation: you don't touch holy things with casual hands.
Modern Christianity forgot this. We've become so familiar with God, we've forgotten He's fearsome.
We want presence without reverence.
The same God who died for you demands you live for Him.
The same God who calls you "beloved" calls you to holiness.
The same God who forgives sin hates sin.
You can't have buddy-Jesus without Lord-Jesus. Can't have grace without holiness. Can't have love without reverence.
Fear of the Lord isn't terror—it's appropriate awe for who God actually is.
Jesus gave His life for all lives. The least we can do is follow His Word with reverent obedience.
If you feel you can't do this, the answer is yes and amen—the Lord has made provision through Jesus Christ.
But His provision doesn't eliminate the call to reverence. It makes reverence possible.
Stop treating God like your homeboy. Start fearing Him as your Lord.
Familiarity breeds contempt—but reverence breeds transformation.
In His Love,
Mogaka Events Ministry
P.S. If you haven't accepted God as your personal Savior, today is the day. Not from terror of judgment, but from being overwhelmed by His holiness and grace. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom—and it starts with surrender.
Come As You Are is a Spirit-led devotional for young adults hungry for God's presence. Written by Ravi Patel and Chriss Mogaka.