Day 2: A Hard Lesson in Holiness

"Those who share in the privilege of being nearest to God must also bear the awesome responsibility of exemplifying His holiness through obedience."

Now, before you start thinking this is not talking about you, STOP!! Because, sure enough, it is! If you have chosen to follow Christ, then you are near God, and in many cases nearer to Him than most others around you! If you come into contact at all with nonbelievers, then this applies to YOU! In fact, this applies amongst believers as well....

I really like that statement that Beth Moore made. It is true. We have the responsibility of representing Christ to everyone! Whether it is to a nonbeliever who knows nothing of Christ or to another believer who is less mature in the faith. We all have this responsibility to some extent!! It must never be taken lightly!

At the same time, before you go and get overwhelmed with this responsibility, remember that Christ does this in us and through us! It is by His sacrifice that we are able to draw near to God. He is doing this for us, through us, in us..... Our worship--a fragrant offering to God--would not be possible without the atonement Christ made for us. Just like the picture of the Tabernacle, the way the altars were positioned. "Until someone had experienced atonement at the first altar, he could not offer the fragrant incense of prayer, praise, and worship at the second because there would be no intercessor!" How much more meaning do Jesus' words have now that we know this, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6

Jesus is the way to the Father, He is the truth--a foundation our lives are built on, and He is the life--eternal life!! In the book of John, as Beth Moore pointed out, the word truth means unveiled reality. Isn't it awesome to think of Jesus as God's unveiled reality. God in the flesh = Jesus = unveiled reality! It was always TRUE, and yet hidden. But truth is now unveiled in Christ!!

It is also important to talk about the "unauthorized fire" that was given. To be honest, it sounded a bit careless to me, as well as having little respect or reverence for what was being done! I do think it's important for us to remember who it is we serve and worship! It is the Creator and One True Living God who is "over all and through all and in all" (Ephesians 4:6). We must not be careless or too soon forget the holiness of God and all that He deserves from us! And yet, Jesus Christ did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking on the very nature of a servant.... (Philippians 2:6-7). What an absolutely amazing God we serve!

What fuels your personal expression of worship? Is it truly more about God than yourself? Can you sense when God is pleased with your worship, and if so, how? How do you think the aspect of sacrifice plays into our worship?