February 7, 2017 Isaiah 57:15 Glimpses of God's Holiness
/For thus says the High and Lofty One
Who inhabits eternity,
Whose Name is Holy:
"I dwell in the high and holy place,
With him who has a contrite and humble spirit,
To revive the spirit of the humble,
And to revive the heart of the contrite ones."
Isaiah 57:15 NKJv
Many people point out that God is love. The worldview of many goes something like this: 'because God is love what I am doing is not so bad. He loves me.' The standard of our conduct should never be our own arbitrary, fluctuating standards. We are wrong when we compare our conduct against someone we consider to be worse that we are. The gold standard of our conduct is Christ Himself. Jesus, the Perfect One, is the One to Whom we must compare our conduct. How wicked we are! How puny and filthy our best intentions and deeds when viewed in the Light of His perfection.
Interestingly enough, the angels of heaven do not cry out: "Love, love, love, is the LORD Almighty." Instead, they cover their faces and cry out: "Holy! Holy! Holy! Is the LORD God Almighty." Why is that significant?
The Holiness of God reveals the sin within every human heart.
The Holiness of God humbles sinners making them aware of their great need for His cleansing.
The Holiness of God destroys our pride and boasting.
The Holiness of God revives the heart of the broken.
The Holiness of God drives us to Jesus Christ.
The Holiness of God makes us long for the work of the Spirit to teach us the way of Him Who is Holy so that the stench and stain and filth of sin are washed away.
God, High and Holy, Blessed be Your Name!
Living as I do in a world steeped in sin and living with a heart that is prone to evil and to wandering, Your Holiness is a mystery to me. Whenever the Bible shows me smallest glimpse of the weight of Your Holiness I am undone. My foolish boasts and claims are shown to be empty and wicked. Clean out my heart, Spirit of God, by the blood of Jesus Christ. Father in heaven, revive me, so that I will long to walk in the way of holiness. Steer the course of my life back on track, Jesus, Captain of Salvation, so that I will not wind up broken on the rocks of familiar sins and wicked patterns of behaviour. You, Holy One, are more willing to answer than I am to sincerely pray! I believe, help me overcome my inertia. Holy Are You, LORD of Lord--Great is Your mercy in revealing Yourself to this world. Amen.
