Monday Morning Encouragement -- Holy Are You Lord!

 

And they were calling to one another:
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty;
    the whole earth is full of His glory.” Isaiah 6:3


This past week I've been reading through Ezekiel, and I've been reminded, again, that God detests sin. He called it out in ancient days through the prophets, and He calls it out still today through the Bible and those who bear witness to the truth of His word found there.


We're living in a popular culture that either doesn't believe in God at all, or has remade God into their own image. This god is impotent and weak. He winks at their sin, which, in fact, they don't even classify as "sin". Instead of owning up to this blasphemy against the holy God of the Bible, it's excused and called "progressive."


Our God is what the Bible calls "long suffering". He is patient and desires that all the world would be saved (John 3:16). He loves us so much that He gave His one and only Son to atone for our sins. This is simply the most selfless, extraordinary act of love that ever -- or will ever -- exist. The unbelieving world mistakes His patience for acceptance. And nothing could be further from the truth.


In Psalm 50:21 we read these words of God:

"When you did these things and I kept silent, you thought I was exactly like you. But I now arraign you and set my accusations before you."


"You thought I was exactly like you."


Am I wrong in saying those words are so very true of our world today?


God is absolutely set apart from humankind. He is nothing like us. 


Nothing.


God is loving. And He is just. These virtues of our God exist together in perfect harmony. Because He is loving, He must be just. And justice demands that God deal with sin. Be assured that He will do so. One day He will come to execute judgment.


"For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son also to have life in Himself. And He has given Him authority to execute judgment, because He is the Son of Man. Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear His voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment." (John 5:26-29)


God is loving. 


God is righteous and just. 


God is holy.


I appreciate what A.W. Tozer writes on the holiness of God:

“Neither the writer nor the reader of these words is qualified to appreciate the holiness of God. Quite literally a new channel must be cut through the desert of our minds to allow the sweet waters of truth that will heal our great sickness to flow in. We cannot grasp the true meaning of the divine holiness by thinking of someone or something very pure and then raising the concept to the highest degree we are capable of.


God’s holiness is not simply the best we know infinitely bettered. We know nothing like the divine holiness. It stands apart, unique, unapproachable, incomprehensible and unattainable… Holy is the way God is. To be holy He does not conform to a standard. He is that standard.”

–A.W. Tozer, The Knowledge of the Holy. (San Francisco: Harper Collins, 1961), pp. 104-5.


Today's music video Holy, Holy, Holy, (I Bow Before Thee) by Shane and Shane is a worship song we sang in our church service yesterday. It deeply moved me, and I pray it will stir your heart to worship our holy God. He is so very worthy of our adoration!





I love you, I'm thinking of you, and I'm praying for you.




15 comments

  1. I try to live grateful for the love God showers onto me.

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    1. Gratitude is certainly a act of worship, Lynn. xo

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  2. Nancy, this is exactly what I have been saying for the past several years. Our Lord is a just God. He cannot tolerate sin in His presence. We cannot change the Bible and His Word to suit us and our sinful lives. I know I am not perfect but I try everyday to live a life pleasing to Him. I fear for this world and the mess we've allowed our country to become. Has it gone too far to come back to our forefather's plan for the United States? I hope not, but I fear it has.
    Thank the Lord Jesus for the gift of eternal life with Him. When we are relieved of the shackles we have here, we can glory with Him in Heaven. Hallelujah!
    Blessings and love,
    Betsy

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    1. Betsy, thank you for sharing your wise thoughts. Our church worship leader has been hammering home (in a gentle way) to us how much we need to make Christ central in our lives. Yes, we say we love Him. Yes, we say we are His followers, but do we really live that way? Do we desire Him above everything else? I want to live the rest of my days in a way that proclaims I belong to Him. Like you, I'm not perfect. I do want to be more like Jesus, and I hope I'm making progress enough for others to see that. God bless you! Hugs.

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  3. Wow! Those Tozer quotes! Thanks for the Shane and Shane song, too.

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    1. Tozer is one of my favorite Bible teachers and authors, Rebecca. He's very quotable. :) xo

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  4. Well said Nancy. I love the recording you shared, too. We are such an unworthy people who have been given a supreme gift in Jesus Christ. I was just reading about judgement today from a commentary on Jude by John MacArthur. God's judgement will come at the end of the age. Hope you have a great week drawing close to the Lord!

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    1. Ellen, thank you. As I mentioned in my post, on Sunday we sang that song, and I was overwhelmed with the very thought you shared. I am so unworthy of the "supreme gift in Jesus Christ" that I have been given. I am so amazed that He would give His life to save a sinner like me from destruction. What a sacrifice! What a Savior!

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  5. So true! Our culture focuses so much on love and leaves out the just part of Him.
    We sang Holy, Holy, Holy last week. Thanks for sharing that as well.

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  6. Our country is a mess and no one seems to care about God. It is so sad. Thanks for the music as always. Wishing you a good week. xoxo Kris

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  7. I love that song... sang it in church as a child and it always got to me.. still does. Your words and scriptures are ever so true.. and I'm scared for this country..... I know God "detests sin".... and I so pray that he will rid our country of all of it! The ones who are sinful are probably not the ones following God's word unfortunately... so they do not realize their fate. I'm appalled at how this government over the years, as pushed God further and further away from our young people. It's just just shameful. xoxo Marilyn

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    1. So true. And so we must let our lights shine for Jesus! Hugs.

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  8. What a great post! Well said!!

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    1. I'm glad it ministered to you, Brenda. God bless you. xo

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