Regarding God as holy

Who is able to stand in the presence of the Lord this holy God? (1 Samuel 6:20)

Because we often talk about the love and grace of God, it’s easy to become too casual about our relationship with God. And we forget something very important. He is a holy God. And we are to regard him as holy.

We dare not treat him like a genie as the Israelites did in bringing the ark to battle (1 Samuel 4).

We dare not treat him like one of the false gods of the nations like the Philistines did (1 Samuel 5).

We dare not treat him with mere idle curiosity as the Israelites did in opening the ark and looking into it (1 Samuel 6).

He is a holy God, one worthy of our reverence. And we are to regard him as holy. (Leviticus 22:32-33, I Peter 3:15)

Although God is love, when the angels praise him in heaven, they don’t sing, “Love, love, love is the Lord God almighty.”

Instead, they sing, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty.” (Isaiah 6:3, Revelation 4:8)

How do you regard God in your life? Do you honor him as holy? Or do you treat him lightly?

Let us always remember Peter’s words to us.

But as the one who called you is holy, you also are to be holy in all your conduct; for it is written, Be holy, because I am holy. 

If you appeal to the Father who judges impartially according to each one’s work, you are to conduct yourselves in reverence during your time living as strangers. (1 Peter 1:15-17)