Jeanne Stewart, Oklahoma
Honor His Holiness
Have you ever had a disagreement with someone and found yourself
wanting to avoid them? Maybe you just did not want to confront them again on the
issue of difference. Later you may have seen them in Walmart and quickly pushed
your shopping cart down another aisle just because you did not want to face
them. Then, there they were at the stop light, and instead of looking their way
and waving, you found something else to keep your eyes on until the light
turned green.
Why do we hide our faces and withdraw from the presence of those we
are at odds with? Why do we allow those broken relationships to continue being
un-mended? Is it that we do not know how to begin to mend them and we wait on
the other party to make the first move? Or, could it be that our friend spoke
something close to truth with us, and we just do not want to accept it? To look
them in the face would bring shame and embarrassment as we remember the
disagreement and the exchange of words that led to the severance of the
association.
The way we relate in our earthly relationships reveals a lot about
how we communicate in the heavenly connection with our Father God. 1 Peter 1:15-16 declares, ‘but as the One Who called you is holy, you
yourselves also be holy in all your conduct and manner of living, because it is
written, be holy, for I Am holy.” In the Word of God, references to ‘seeking His face’ have to do with ‘honor’ and ‘worship’ that brings His presence and acceptance. And in the church
today many hide their faces and withdraw from God when His precious Holy Spirit
moves with conviction through the preaching of His word in the assembly of His
people. We often do not seek His face because we are ashamed to look into His
Holiness and honor His presence above all else. To do so would require
repentance and total surrender, and many do not desire to lay down everything
to have the Spirit of God truly move in revival in their hearts bringing
change.
God’s righteous nature is holiness, while ours is of the nature of sin. Many believers
today live their walk of faith with their heads down for they cannot look into
the face of their Savior because of recurring failure. Many think God is ready
to pronounce sentence on them for their weaknesses. This outlook keeps His
church walking far beneath the place God truly has for the overcoming Bride He
desires to be dressed in spotless white. The excellence of His character and
His nature – His holiness – is perfected in us as we ‘walk it out’ in this earthly life one day at a time, redeemed
by the washing of His word. For God makes holy whatever He touches by His very
presence. Faithful is He who is calling you to
Himself and utterly trustworthy, and He will also do it fulfilling His call by
hallowing and keeping you. (1 Thessalonians 5:24)
Be prepared to see the rebellious and stubborn
part of your sin nature rise up when you begin desiring to walk deeper in
holiness. For the holiness of our God goes against the sinful nature and makes
the penetrating purity of God Almighty incompatible with our sinful nature.
Remember how Isaiah saw himself as ‘undone’ and having ‘unclean lips’ when he saw the Lord in Isaiah chapter 6? But know this: as you look
into His face and desire to change, you are bringing honor to His Holiness …
and He never turns away a sincere heart that wants to change into His image.
Through disappointments and failures He can teach us; we cannot walk in our own strength and will. Only His
faithfulness and mercy accomplish His purpose in us through times of loss,
loneliness, pain and even persecution. Surrendering daily our will and
confessing our weaknesses, He molds and will conform our walk to His high
calling. Believer, we have been joined to Him through the cross. We share in
His holiness of character and identity. Even when our walk reflects our
faithlessness, He is always faithful. (2 Timothy 2:13)
Father God … we live by
faith in YOUR holiness … and we know that those that honor YOU will see YOUR face and not be ashamed …
we want to honor YOUR presence among us … still our thoughts … shut out
distractions … lift our hearts to that place of peace that can be found alone
with YOU … in YOUR beauty … YOUR holiness … for in YOUR glory is the beauty of
holiness … so we ask in the name of JESUS … change our sinful nature to YOUR
nature of holiness that we may Honor YOUR Holiness ~
