Hello,
There are some things that just cannot be mixed. I guess water and oil may be a very good example. Water is charged positively on the oxygen end, and negatively on the hydrogen end. Oil does not have a charge (it's neutral), so the oil does not mix with the water. In a word, oil cannot form a bond with water. How can a Holy God ever bond with a sinful man. It seems if anything or anybody could not form a bond it would be here. Holiness is a key word in describing the nature of God. The word belongs uniquely to Him. It separates Him from everything else and from everyone else. It is an indispensable word for speaking about God. He never moves from His position or changes in this matter of Holiness. Revelation 15:4a: "Who will not fear You, O Lord, and bring glory to Your name? For You alone are holy." Isaiah 40:25: "To whom will you compare Me? Or who is My equal?" 1 Samuel 6:20 "Who can stand in the presence of the Lord, this holy God?" Hosea 11:9 "I am God, and not man - the Holy One among you." Isaiah 57:15 "For this is what the high and lofty One says - He Who lives forever, Whose name is holy: 'I live in a high and holy place." I cannot encounter God without encountering His holiness. I cannot know Him without becoming aware of His holiness. I cannot have a relationship with Him except in the context of His holiness. God and holiness are inseparable. But God's holiness is not a barrier to our having a loving relationship. Holiness does not eternally separate Him from me. Holiness belongs to God. I, too, can belong to God., And in that way holiness and I can belong together. Impossible? Unreasonable? Self-contradictory? To man's limited understanding, yes. The truth is that God longs to share His holiness with me. He tells us in 2 Peter 1:4 that He enables us "...to become participants of the divine nature." We heard Him say in Isaiah 57:15 above: "He who lives forever, Whose name is holy: 'I live in a high and holy place," however, at the end of the verse He says He also lives with: "....those who are contrite and humble in spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite." No, oil and water may never mix, but God's holiness can transform a sinful man, and bring him into partnership with Himself. We can abide in Him. Astounding!!! Peter refers to this as a precious and very great promise. If you are not experiencing His Holiness in your life, let Him through the power of His Holy Spirit remove anything in your surrendered heart that does not mix, that can not mix, with His holiness, and claim by faith, this precious and very great promise for yourself. God bless, and remember that you are loved!!! Henry
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Henry DeatonHenry D. is from Southern Indiana and writes these wonderful daily devotionals to encourage those at the Dogwood Community Church located in Paoli, Indiana. Henry has graciously agreed to share these wonderful devotionals here at Without Excuse Ministries to encourage you our valued guest! Archives
January 2013
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