Wednesday, September 4, 2013

THE BEAUTY OF HOLINESS Part II

The beauty of holiness.  So different than what we, in our flesh, imagine beauty to be....


And when he [Jehoshaphat] had consulted with the people, he appointed those who should sing to the Lord, and who should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army and were saying: “Praise the Lord, For His mercy endures forever.” 2 Chron. 20:21

 
  
Those whom Jehoshaphat chose to sing and praise the Lord in the temple had to embrace this vision of holiness, what it meant, and how to honor it in a way that was pleasing to God. It was no slight or unimportant calling. Those chosen had to have sincerity in heart for the great holiness of God and express it with truth.

Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. 1 Cor 5:8
 


To come before Him with offerings of praise and to accept the many gifts He graciously gives us, we must truly have a heart filled with submission, thanksgiving, and gladness. Our songs should be filled with adoration. How can we partake of His glory and goodness while holding on to things that don't bear good fruit or without trying to understand how magnificent He is?!

The words we sing or offer in praise should be heartfelt and full of life as they give evidence to our own holiness, belief, and way of living. We should praise the beauty of His holiness with every breath we take and every move we make. God is completely holy and His holiness is beautiful to behold! To be holy is:


1. to lead a saintly; godly; pious; devout: a holy life;
2. to have a spiritually pure quality: a holy love; and
3. be entitled to worship or veneration as or as if sacred.
He deserves ALL of our praise as He is truly perfect. He loves with a deep love, an unselfish love, an unconditional love. His motives are pure. "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28  Oh, how He loves us! We should long to be like Him, to have the beauty of holiness in His sight...


For all those things My hand has made, And all those things exist,” Says the Lord. “But on this one will I look: On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, And who trembles at My word. 
Isaiah 66:2
He loves us no matter what. He finds the beauty in our sacrifice of pride to make way for humility, in our acknowledgement of His sovereignty, when we make Him Lord of every aspect of our lives, and when we live our lives for Him. 
Beauty in the ashes.
Beauty in the pain.
Beauty in the sacrifice. 
Beauty in the submissive life.
Beauty in the repentant heart.
Beauty in the spiritual fruit. 
Beauty in the praises.
Beauty in the reverence.
Beauty in the testimony.
Beauty in the holiness.

Let's worship Him in the beauty of holiness as He alone is God and is worthy of all praise!