03/24/2018
How do you view holiness? Are you a humble and holy person? Are you this because you say you are, or because others see it in you and say “this person is humble, and holy indeed”? If you think you have achieved a certain degree of humility and holiness before God do you use it to separate yourself from those who have not? In Isaiah 65 we hear God speaking of such actions and He calls them rebellious.
“I spread out my hands all the day to a rebellious people, who walk in a way that is not good, following their own devices;
who say, "Keep to yourself, do not come near me, for I am too holy for you." These are a smoke in my nostrils, a fire that burns all the day.”
Isaiah 65:2, 5 ESV
We can enter into the midst of most any gathering of Christians and sense the presence of some who put off an aura of what the English Standard Version of Isaiah 65:5 refers to as “too holy for you”, and the King James Version translates as “holier than thou.” Do you know what I am talking about? Have you felt it? They are rebellious people before God... guard against becoming one of them. Jesus warns us about our perception of ourselves. He did it in Matthew, and then again in Luke. Let’s read these two accounts, and pay close attention to the five uses of I as the Pharisee speaks in Luke.
“Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?”
Matthew 7:3 ESV
“"Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.' But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner!'”
Luke 18:10-13 ESV
The indicator needle in the gauge of holiness is called humility, and our gauge is not intended to show how much we have, or how much better we are than others, but rather, to show them something about who they can become. Our humility should not be an act that causes us to push ourselves away from others, or them away from us, but something that draws us near... together. Not associating with publicans and sinners because we feel that we are holier than they are, and that they might taint us in some way, is not humility at all... it is judgement. I read a wonderful warning regarding this that I would like to share with you...
“Beware, lest we make a profession of holiness, delighting in beautiful thoughts and feelings, in solemn acts of consecration and faith, while the mark of the presence of God - the disappearance of self - is obviously missing. Flee to Jesus and hide yourselves in Him until you are clothed with His humility. That alone is holiness.” - Andrew Murray
When we look at ourselves in order to see if we are holy, then the first thing we should see is the humility of Jesus Christ. We can do all the things of religion, we can serve people and say it is in the name of Jesus, but if it is not done in the humility of Christ then we have missed the mark, and our gauge is showing empty. We are devoid of holiness.
The Hebrew word for holy means to be set apart... not set apart “from”, but set apart “for.” If you are holy you are set apart for the sacred use of God. If you want to understand what that looks like then you need look no further than Jesus Christ. In Jesus we see a humility that allows Him to dine with sinners, and to ultimately submit Himself to a horrible crucifixion. Is that who you see in the mirror? Is that who others see when they look at you?
Jesus never once said that He was Holy... He just showed us, and fulfilled the Old Testament prophesy of holiness in humility, and He did that by living a life which brought others to call Him Holy.
“But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.”
1 Peter 1:15-16 KJV
Prayer:
Father, I thank you for your Holy Son Jesus Christ who served as a living representation of the holiness we should all seek to demonstrate. I thank you for humility Father; not the self-serving semblance of it that makes one feel better than others, but the humility that Jesus portrayed when He sat down with sinners, and prostitutes while leading them to change their lives, and bringing them to that place where they would one day soon be washed pure by His blood. Help me Father to overcome the pride I am tempted with as I serve you. Help me to be humble Lord in all I do for you and your kingdom. Let all glory be yours Holy Father, and all praise be directed to you, for I can do nothing without your hand upon me. Show me Father how Jesus could heal the sick, and remain humble. Show me how Jesus could turn water into wine, and remain humble. Show me how Jesus could be the King of the Jews, and humble Himself upon the cross, and show me how your Son could be Holy in your eyes.
Father, as Easter approaches, and Good Friday is at hand, show me now the humility that you would have in me... allow me to exude the holiness that only comes from you. Let me feel even a small touch of the humility that flows from the cross. Holy, Holy, Holy are you my God. Help me now Lord Jesus my Savior.
Rich Forbes