March 29 Made Holy

Ephesians 1:4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love
 
FROM the Bible’s beginning, we are confronted with God’s holiness. For example, consider, “And the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.” (Genesis 1:1) Who else but sacred perfection, the holiness of God in the Person of the Holy Spirit prepare a formless void to be reformed into a perfect creation?
    Theologian Dr. R.C. Sproul has written a remarkable account of God’s holy character in his aptly named book “The Holiness of God”. He begins the book with his own experience, describing how the holy God called him out of a formless unholy life to reform his life into a worldwide ministry for the gospel.
    What’s your story? Has God reformed your life to his holiness? He has if you name Jesus Christ as your Lord. Hear Paul powerfully teach Jesus’ reforming work in 2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” What joy! A holy result of your faith is that you are no longer formless and void. Bless God that with the same power that formed the heavens and the earth, the Spirit has formed you anew into God’s holy presence.
    What, then, is to be your response? Surely we must strive to “be holy and blameless before him”. Yes, we will sin. But our lives are to be a striving to follow God’s true teachings, to live as perfectly as we can because we have a heart to please God.
    Many people say, “God loves me where I am.” That’s true. But know this: Your Creator’s love is so great he doesn’t want to leave you where you are. His passion to make you new is so great, he died for you. How can anyone think the holy God would welcome us as we are covered in sin? You can only stand before God with God’s permission.  
    Paul is affirming that through Christ we have been granted permission to be in God’s holy presence. Confess your sins. Confess Jesus is your Lord and Savior. Be baptized. Enter confidently into a holy life with the Holy God.
    Rejoice and be glad that God has not left you void and formless where you are, but he has reformed you to perfectly welcome you into his holy presence.
 
Prayer: My Father in Heaven, holy be your name. Thank you for making me holy through Jesus’ blood washed over me. In his name I rejoice. Amen.