WORSHIP IN HOLINESS

Ps. 96:9 Worship the LORD in all his holy splendor. Let all the earth tremble before him. NLT

How often does the holiness of God capture your mind and heart in worship? I suspect that it’s not very often. We go through our routines of worship and usually follow a certain pattern. We emphasize certain characteristics of God (usually His power and love). We usually set times for certain things to happen. We gear our services to end at a particular time. Most services do not lend themselves to quiet reflection on who God is.

God is unlike anyone else in life. There is nothing to compare God to. His power and ability are beyond our ability to comprehend. His majesty is seen in all that exists. His handiwork is mind-boggling. No words are available to describe who God is. We can only imagine and try to express in words to the best of our ability the majesty and glory of God.

Worship that changes our lives feasts on the splendor of His holiness. When we recognize that God is holy, it cuts deep into our hearts. We are able to see ourselves in light of who we really are before God. We are able to see what really matters in life, our submission and obedience to God. If we are not drawn into the holiness of God in worship, we have missed out on the most important part of worship.

When we understand that God is holy, we change our attitude towards Him. There is a deep level of respect and reverence for a holy God. There is a level of fear that grips the soul. There is a keen awareness of our need to live rightly before Him. There is a keen awareness that we dare not take God, nor His grace, for granted. A healthy fear of God is essential for a healthy relationship with God.

Don’t take God’s holiness lightly. God is unlike any other. He is absolutely untainted by sin, perfect in every way. God is so pure that no sin can ever be in His presence. He commands us to be like Him, a holy people, a people set apart from sin. Knowing how impossible it is for us to be holy, He provided the way for it to happen. Jesus, who knew no sin became sin for us; He is our holiness and righteousness before God. Hallelujah! What a Savior!