Verse of the day: Exodus
3:5 Then He said, “Do not draw
near this place. Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground.”
As
we read this verse, it should cause us to stop and consider how we approach God’s
throne when we go before Him. How do we interact with our God? Have we become
so familiar that we fail to approach Him with reverence? One of the wonderful
truths we have in God’s Word is that we can approach God’s throne and ask for
His mercy, and grace, when we need it. Hebrews 4:16 tells us that we can come
boldly to God’s throne. The word “boldly” means to have freedom to speak, to be
unreserved in speech, openly, frankly, but does not mean to do it without
respect and reverence. Far too often, I hear people refer to Jesus or God the
Father in ways that are far too familiar. There are many verses that speak of the
reverence of, and fear of, the Lord (Psalm 111:10; 112:1; 115:13), and how it
is the beginning of wisdom, and that God blesses those that fear Him. Note that
it was God who commanded Moses not to approach Him nonchalantly, and note the
reason; Moses was stepping onto holy ground. Was this piece of earth holy in,
and of, itself? No, it was not. It became holy when God separated it unto
Himself, for His purpose. Just like Moses’ life, it is not about what Moses
could do or could not do. Our lives are about what God can do in us, and
through us. This is the reason that we are to come out from amongst the world
in our words, actions, and attitudes. We were bought with a price, and our
lives are no longer our own (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). When we called upon Jesus
to save us, we were set apart for God’s purposes. Just like that plot of
ground, when the Holy Spirit came and dwelt in us, and sealed us, we become God’s
holy people. In 2 Corinthians 6:17 we are called to come out from among the
unsaved, and not be unequally yoked with them; we are not to behave, and live,
like them. God has a purpose for each of our lives, and he calls us to be holy,
as He who calls us is holy (1 Peter 1:15-16). Just like God commanded Moses not
to take lightly the fact that he was stepping onto holy ground, we too must not
take lightly that our bodies, which now belong to God, are to be used for holy
purposes. This should be reflected in our actions, attitude, and how we serve God
and others. We should always approach our God knowing that we have the freedom,
in Christ, to go before Him, but must do so with respect and reverence. Our
lives, and the way we live for Christ should also reflect that fear and reverence.
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