How Beautiful is the Holiness of God!!!

I love God’s Word. I love studying it. I love reading it. And I love how the Holy Spirit speaks to us through Scripture. I’ve been doing a lot of studying lately. Studying the archeological history of the Bible (how it originated into the form that we know), studying 1st and 2nd Kings, and the history of Israel- before and after Christ’s ascension. I study not to convince myself of Biblical truths. But so that I have an answer for those who may ask questions I have never been quite sure how to answer.

Yet studying all of the above has increased my faith in God. God is so faithful -and I am realizing this more and more every day I walk with Him. I am realizing the extent of His holiness, and therefore the magnitude of Christ’s sacrifice. The more I learn of God’s law, the more I am awed by His grace. Without the law why would anyone need God? No one knows really what the love of God is all about until the Law comes in. What a magnificent, holy God we serve! And we owe Him nothing less than our lives….

In studying through 1st and 2nd Kings I am awed. What wicked kings Israel and Judah had! And oh how God hates sin! Every time Israel and Judah sinned, they were punished. And yet God kept the promises He made to those who walked in His will. It’s beautiful to see the consistency of God’s holiness. Israel sins; Israel is punished. Israel walks in the ways of the Lord; God blesses the nation. Over and over they turn from God. Over and over they are punished by the hand of God. And yet He is faithful to the promises He made to Abraham, to David.

I wonder….so often we focus on Christ’s love. But so often we stay away from talking of God’s holiness and righteousness. Why?

All throughout the Old Testament God’s holiness is proclaimed. Too often we shut this part of Scripture out, saying “ that’s the Old Covenant.” This may be true, yet the Old Testament is in God’s Word for a reason. I believe it’s there to remind us of the righteousness of our Holy Creator; to show us the extent to which He hates sin.

It’s true that “By grace we are saved, and not by works,” but it’s also true that “faith without works is dead”.

Studying the Old Testament has increased my desire to live a blameless life before God. I see His holiness and His love of righteousness, and while I know that I am not saved by works, I desire in the deepest way to be holy, as He is holy- and this is portrayed through my works. I desire holiness because I love Him. Because I see what He loves and I desire to be more of that. Not to be loved more, but to love Him more through my actions, through my life.

Ye are Christ's." 1 Corinthians 3:23

"Ye are Christs." You are His by donation, for the Father gave you to the Son; His by His bloody purchase, for He counted down the price for your redemption; His by dedication, for you have consecrated yourself to Him; His by relation, for you are named by His name, and made one of His brethren and joint-heirs. Labour practically to show the world that you are the servant, the friend, the bride of Jesus. When tempted to sin, reply, "I cannot do this great wickedness, for I am Christ's." Immortal principles forbid the friend of Christ to sin. When wealth is before you to be won by sin, say that you are Christ's, and touch it not. Are you exposed to difficulties and dangers? Stand fast in the evil day, remembering that you are Christ's. Are you placed where others are sitting down idly, doing nothing? Rise to the work with all your powers; and when the great sweat stands upon your brow, and you are tempted to loiter, cry, "No, I cannot stop, for I am Christ's. If I were not purchased by blood I might be like Issachar, crouching between two burdens; but I am Christ's and cannot loiter." When the siren song of pleasure would tempt you from the path of right, reply, "Thy music cannot charm me; I am Christ's." When the cause of God invites thee, give thyself to it; when the poor require thee, give thy goods and thyself away, for thou art Christ's. Never belie they profession. Be thou ever one of those whose manners are Christian, whose speech is like the Nazarene, whose conduct and conversation are so redolent of heaven, that all who see you may know that you are the Saviour's, recognizing in you His features of love and His countenance of holiness. "I am Roman!" was of old a reason for integrity; far more, then, let it be your argument for holiness, "I am Christ's!"

-Charles Spurgeon

I read this devotional a couple days ago. It was an incredible encouragement to me. I pray it's an encouragement to you.

Love long weekends

We went skiing for 7 hours on Saturday. It was incredible! Jason and his friend Pete, who came with us, are so much better at skiing than I am. They were flying down the hills, spinning, and skiing backwards... then there was me. Thankfully they were amazingly patient as I was perfecting my skills :) I've only been skiing 3 times in my life and I've never had the proper skiing stuff. (Goggles are a necessity for me since I wear contacts). It was so much fun though and before I knew it I was going down "black diamonds" -not horribly fast by any means, but getting down them nontheless.

The most adventurous part of it, though, was the weather. It was raining...hard! Freezing rain. All the hills were nothing less than puuuure ice. 30 minutes after we got in it started raining sleet. There was no way we were going to blow $80 by leaving so we toughed it out. Jason looked like a glazed donut and the rain cleared most everyone outta there- which meant less lines on ski lifts yay!

We had so much fun and I wish we could go more...it's just SO expensive.

We went to a wedding this weekend also. Jason was the usher in his friend's expensive wedding and I just tagged along to the rehearsal, rehearsal dinner, wedding ceremony, and reception. It wasn't fun for me since I knew virtually no one. But such is life.

We played SO much Settler's of Caatan this weekend and introduced 5 people to the game! They all loved it! We also played some good ole' rook, which we're also crazy about.

Last night I talked with my little bro for 2 hours. I love my brother! We have such great conversations. I love that we're so close. I just hope we stay close- even when they have a girl in March :) We talked about the whole Calvinism/Armeniesm argument. Fun to disuss, but rather pointless to a degree. People think they can figure God out, failing to realize we can't know everything about God. All we need to know is that God is sovereign and all things are under His control. He knows who His children are. End of story!

So that was my weekend in a nutshell. My body is aching from skiing Saturday. I almost called in sick today, but I'm proud cause I didn't :)