Called to Holiness
"’Woe to me!’ I cried. ‘I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.'"1
What brings a believer into the kingdom of God and sustains it to the end is unmerited grace. However, a very common misconception of this truth is that we can do whatever we want, sin however we want, because grace will always be the safety net that will trap us.
Grace is never a license to sin. It is the power to live a holy life. God is holy and calls us, his children, to live a holy life.
To be holy means to be set apart. It's not simply about giving up or rejecting certain behaviors. It's about choosing Jesus above all else. Choose to love, obey, adore, and serve Him every day of our lives.
In Isaiah's vision in chapter 6, as the Lord sat on a throne, high and exalted, the seraphim cried out, "Holy, holy, holy."
This passage was written in a context of turmoil, disillusionment, and death. Israel was in a moment of crisis as a nation, and then Uzziah, its king, died. He had been on the throne since the age of sixteen and reigned for fifty-two years, he was the only ruler the people had ever known. Under his rule, Israel experienced security and stability, prospered, and received everything it needed. Now they were vulnerable and feared for their future.
Yet, in the midst of their anguish, a holy God is revealed. God presents Himself and reveals Himself to Isaiah in a powerful vision. Although King Uzziah had died, the Supreme King was here, exalted and sublime. Uzziah's throne may now be empty, but the throne of heaven is still occupied.
God's holiness reveals that he does not abandon his throne. He will never abdicate his responsibility. He is ruling as sovereign and supreme Judge in the heavenly courts. That is why we choose to be holy, because God has revealed Himself through Christ as the Holy, the Almighty, and the Omnipresent One who is always seeking our heart.
Remember today and keep this in your heart: God is holy and seated on the throne. Let the revelation of how holy God is cause a revolution in us to live a holy life and seek His righteousness.
Suggested Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, today I raise my voice and proclaim that you are Holy, Holy, Holy. Thanks to the sacrifice of your only Son, you have made me holy. Help me to live according to this truth by the power of the Holy Spirit. Cleanse, purify, renew, and sanctify my life so that I may walk with power, purity, and purpose, in the name of my beloved Jesus, Amen.
1. Isaiah 6:5 (NIV).
Today's Encounter was written by: Rosina N.
All articles on this website are written by
Richard (Dick) Innes unless otherwise stated.