Thoughts On Holiness

Then this further message came to me from the LORD: “Son of man, when the people of Israel were living in their own land, they defiled it by the evil way they lived. To me their conduct was as unclean as a woman’s menstrual cloth. They polluted the land with murder and the worship of idols, so I poured out my fury on them. I scattered them to many lands to punish them for the evil way they had lived. But when they were scattered among the nations, they brought shame on my holy name. For the nations said, ‘These are the people of the LORD, but he couldn’t keep them safe in his own land!’ Then I was concerned for my holy name, on which my people brought shame among the nations. [Ezekiel 36.16-21]

This is an interesting passage of scripture. It gives us clear insight into God's character.

We know God is love. We also know God is just. But I think we rarely really consider the undeniable fact that God is holy.

God's holiness protects itself. Because God is holy, He protects the honor of His name.

We might be inclined to think God is proud, but pride does not even touch the significance of God's holiness. Man has pride - and, man can't even handle that. But God has holiness. His holiness transcends the pettiness of pride because holiness is not misinformed like pride can so often be.

With this in mind, again, God protects the holiness of His name.

Perhaps in understanding this, we can see that God's holiness is the source of His love. Holiness is void of wrongdoing or wrong thinking so it is only logical that love is the natural expression of holiness. But so is justice. This brings a much deeper meaning to, "For God so loved the world..."

So God, in His omniscient holiness, balances justice and love as only He can do. In so doing, we always see God maintaining His holiness... which for His wayward children sometimes looked like mercy, when, in fact, He was protecting the honor of His name before a watching world.

For us to only focus on God's love and/or God's justice is shortsighted. Unless we remain mindful of God's holiness, we risk misinterpreting God's love and justice. This is a common problem today among those who follow God.

It would seem we can thank God for His love and justice. But we can only worship God for His holiness. Love and justice are God's to give but Holiness is Who He IS.

I'm just processing here...

Father, as I have considered Your holiness today, I am made aware that it is the driving force behind all You do. It is the reason You love and it is the reason You are just. Teach me more about this - I realize there is so much more I need to learn...