SUNDAY THOUGHT -18

SUNDAY THOUGHT -18 WORSHIP IN HOLINESS "Worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness" exhorts the psalmist. (Ps.29:2; 96:9). "Holiness adorns your house O LORD, forever" hails the Psalmist (93:5). "Exalt the LORD our God, and worship at his footstool, for He is Holy" declares the Psalmist (99:5, 9). In the vision of Isaiah, he saw the Seraphim worshipping God declaring a single point truth: "Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of Hosts…" (6:3). The four living creatures in the vision of John has the same thing to declare: "Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God almighty, who was and is and is to come" (Rev. 4:8b.). John saw them saying the same without rest day or night! Holiness defines the LORD. God is holy. This holiness marks His right to be worshipped. Holiness speaks about two particular aspects of God: His distinction and moral purity. God is distinct from everything else that exists. He is unique. There is nothing that can be compared with Him (cf. 1 Samuel 2:2;Ex. 15:11). He is without equals. In this way He does not depend on anyone or anything to bring Him to existence or to sustain him in being. As Holy, God He is great in power and grandeur. This majestic holiness is a theme in the Book of Psalms calling people to worship Him (see Ps. 105:3; 106:47; 108:7; 47:8; 11:9; etc.). Bing Holy, God is distinct and unique. Therefore he is to be worshipped. Holiness speaks about God's moral purity also. God is separate and set apart from everything in His moral purity. He does not have any relation with sin. He is free from the pollution of sin. Being Holy, God is righteous (Ps.145:17) and faithful (Ps. 105:42; 89:35). The worshipping community has to give attention to these both aspects of God's holiness. God always wanted His people to be separate from other peoples and to worship Him in purity alone. The redemption and deliverance God brought about for Israel of O.T. was with this purpose: That they should worship Him. They could not do that in Egypt among unholiness. They needed to be separated. God gave them a new standard for life; new set of practices to follow. This was based upon His holiness. He wanted His people comply with His holiness. He desired them to be Holy (Lev. 19:2; 20:3, 26). The redemption God worked out through his son Jesus is with the same intention- to make a people who worship Him in Holiness. Believers are sanctified people. They are saints before God. This positional holiness is the first step towards worshipping God in holiness. By this God has separated us from this world and made us distinct. Our standards for life are different. Our practices are different including that of worship. This distinction is to be kept for worshipping a distinct being, our God. Moral purity is a high virtue God demands from the worshipping community. No unholiness was permitted at the Holy sanctuary of God in Israel. The descriptions concerning physical cleanliness cautions us about the high standard of purity God demanded from people who drew near to worship him. The church today is to be holy in her moral conduct. The standard for that purity is God himself. "Be ye Holy, as I am Holy" (1Pet. 1:15-16). Our physical cleanliness in not what is highlighted, though that is not unimportant. Rather, moral purity; Purity of our hands, hearts and mind. Purity in our attitude and actions. That is to be seen in the worshipping community. This will not happen without a voluntary and purposeful maintenance of purity at the present. The worship in heaven is perfect because we shall reach the expected perfection then. But as long as we are on earth, with unholiness and ungodliness, an effort is required to maintain god's standard of purity. Holiness marks out God. Holiness should mark out the people who worship Him as well. As we prepare to worship God this week, let us pay attention to God's Holiness that makes Him distinct and perfect. Let us remember that God desires to see the same in us, his redeemed and sanctified people. Let us worship in Holiness. Yours in The gloriuos ministry of God Joji George Abraham