Consecrated to Him

Most of us would be moderately uncomfortable with the thought that we could be holy. Holiness seems to be an attribute reserved for God, but beyond that, a lot of us would have a difficult time trying to verbalize exactly what it is. Yet way back in the book of Leviticus, God clearly says to His people,

“Be holy, for I am the LORD your God” (Leviticus 20:7).

It is almost impossible for me to comprehend God’s holiness. His holiness is the antithesis of what I am and what I know, and it evokes all kinds of feelings in me—from sheer terror to trembling reverence. I have been reading numerous Scripture passages and books on the holiness of God, and my reading has caused me to reflect on how cavalierly we treat God in the midst of such incredible blessings. As I was running an errand yesterday, I looked at the scenes passing by my car window. Beautiful homes with lovely yards; people golfing in designer clothing on perfectly manicured fairways; stores stocked with everything we could desire; lakes and trees and wildlife; people fishing and swimming and biking. In the midst of it all, I was struck with how much we are given and how much we take for granted. I was overwhelmed with how much God has provided for us. And I was overwhelmed with how seldom we acknowledge Him for it.

This biblical warning came to mind:

“Beware that you do not forget the LORD your God … lest—when you have eaten and are full, and have built beautiful houses and dwell in them; and when your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and your gold are multiplied, and all that you have is multiplied; when your heart is lifted up, and you forget the LORD your God” (Deuteronomy 8:11-14).

Words we need to heed.

When we glimpse the greatness of our God, we often want to do something to honor Him. We are like Peter when he saw Jesus in His glory with Moses and Elijah. He said,

“If You wish, let us make here three tabernacles” (Matthew 17:4).

But in the book of Micah, God tells us what He requires of us to be pleasing to Him:

“With what shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before the High God? Shall I come before Him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:6-8)

God isn’t looking for perfect men and women; God isn’t asking us to build great monuments to Him. God is looking for people who will reverence Him in their hearts and in their lifestyles. God is looking for people in whom He can take up residence, with whom He can speak and walk, through whom He can work. He is looking for people who are willing to be set apart.

Lord, I know that You understand my shortcomings, for You created me. But I also know that You are holy and awesome and that Your purposes for Your people far exceed what I could dream or imagine. Forgive me for being distracted from You. I bow my heart and my knee to You, the King of kings and Lord of lords. Perform a work in me that I might be pleasing in Your sight, O God. My heart cries out with Your angels as they call to one another, “Holy, Holy, Holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!” (Isaiah 6:3)

Excerpted with permission from Near to the Heart of God, by Terry Meeuwsen ©1998

Scripture is taken from the New King James Version^®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.