Holiness

You have brought uncircumcised foreigners into my sanctuary—people who have no heart for God. In this way, you defiled my Temple even as you offered me my food, the fat and blood of sacrifices. In addition to all your other detestable sins, you have broken my covenant. [Ezekiel 44.7]

The context of the passage above is Ezekiel's vision concerning the construction and use of the Temple. While this has its own meaning for Israel in the time it was written, it seems there is also something that might be gleaned for God's people today.

God always demands holiness. God never changes.

There exists today a 'sloppy' approach to devotion to God among God's people. It must seriously grieve the Holy Spirit to witness all the allowances (indulgences) God's people give themselves in the "name of Christ."

Jesus Himself actually addressed this very problem with a parable:

And Jesus answered and spoke to them again by parables and said: “The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son, and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding; and they were not willing to come. Again, he sent out other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, “See, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and fatted cattle are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the wedding.” ’ But they made light of it and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his business. And the rest seized his servants, treated them spitefully, and killed them. But when the king heard about it, he was furious. And he sent out his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. Therefore go into the highways, and as many as you find, invite to the wedding.’ So those servants went out into the highways and gathered together all whom they found, both bad and good. And the wedding hall was filled with guests. “But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment. So he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ “For many are called, but few are chosen.” [Matthew 22,1-14]

Even Jesus pointed out the dangers of not taking God's holiness seriously! Why, "in Jesus' name" would His followers allow the world to influence their approach to Holy God? Remember, even though the undeserving people were invited to the wedding, they were still required to be "dressed accordingly!"

The work of the Holy Spirit today is not to excuse our unpreparedness to enter God's presence, but to prepare us to do so! He does so functioning as an advocate on our behalf and as an empower-er to us to do the will of God by faith. If we weren't in need of constant 'cleaning up' and 'straightening out,' the blood and resurrection of Jesus would have been the end of the story. But instead, we need constant refinement in our lives to approach and serve our Holy God and so He has given us His Holy Spirit to accomplish that very task!

The goal of the modern Church should not be to become the "modern" Church, but to become the Church of the timeless Living God.

Something holds the Church today in general powerlessness. Could this prevalent 'sloppy' approach to God have anything to do with it? In this 'sloppiness,' do we even care?

Father, I am convicted today of the need to always see You as holy. I am furthermore convicted to approach You in consideration of Your holiness - including that fact that Jesus' blood shed on my behalf is most holy. May I remain mindful of Your holiness understanding that without the blood of Jesus and the work of Your Holy Spirit within me, I am dead to You. May You be glorified in me and through my life.