Saturday, March 18, 2017

The Saturday Series - 6 - "Holy, Holy, Holy"


(Friends:  Most Saturdays for the duration of this year, I plan on sharing a message that relates to the character and nature of God, and our response thereunto.  I hope you will find it helpful, and as always, thanks for allowing us to send the devotionals to you.  Glen).


The Saturday Series - 6

"Holy, Holy, Holy"     
  
  
   The primary meaning of the Biblical term holy involves something or someone set apart, consecrated, or sanctified.  Since creation rightfully belongs to God, all things and persons should be holy to Him - "The earth is the Lord's, and the fullness therefore, the world and they that dwell therein" (Psalm 24:1).  The existence of sin complicates the reality of holiness.  All things belong to God, including all angels and people.  However, not all act in a manner befitting of His ownership.  Thus, the redeeming work of the Lord Jesus Christ involves the ultimate Divine purpose whereby He will "subdue all things unto Himself" (Philippians 3:21).  Whether happily or unhappily, all creation will bow the knee to the Lordship of Christ, and holiness to God will be fully manifested and executed.  "Then cometh the end, when He shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when He shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign, till He hath put all enemies under His feet" (I Corinthians 15:24-25).

   This raises an interesting Biblical question.  The most important truth of holiness is that God Himself is holy.  To whom is He set apart, consecrated, or sanctified?  "One cried unto another, Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts!" (Isaiah 6:3).  The prophet's affirmation provides an answer, raising consideration of the triune nature of God.  The Father is holy, and devoted to the Son and the Holy Spirit.  The Son is holy, and consecrated to the Father and the Holy Spirit.  And, of course, the Holy Spirit is holy, and set apart to the Father and the Son.

Holy, holy, holy sing we to
our Thrice-glorious Lord.
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
wondrous beyond thought, beyond word.

And in this moment, in this hour, in this day,
our thoughts ascend with praise,
borne on wings of grace and faith,
endued with hearts amazed…

Holy, holy, holy is our Thrice-glorious Lord!

    In essence, God is consecrated to Himself, as He exists in His triune nature.  He cannot be other than who and what He is.  "I am the Lord.  I change not" (Malachi 3:6).  This elicits the faithfulness of His character, nature, and way in an illumination of purity that should thrill, awe, and greatly encourage us even as we fall to our knees and faces.  God will always be who He is.  He will always act in precise accordance with His holy Being.  He will be today who He was yesterday.  We shall know Him tomorrow as He is today.  His goodness and greatness exist in a fixed purity and power, from everlasting to everlasting.  He was, He is, and He will be exactly the God as revealed by His Word, His Spirit, and His creation.  Never will we find Him as other than who He is, as "Holy, holy, holy!"

   Such blessed truth means that someone, Someone, exists who we can trust with all our hearts.  Moreover, Someone exists to whom we can belong without the slightest fear of ever being unjustly abused or misused.  We are holy unto the Holy.  "Be ye holy for I am holy" (I Peter 1:16).  This is peace, the peace of holiness known in those who first fall before the Thrice-glorious Lord, and then arise to walk in the blessedness of belonging to the One who rightly possesses Heaven, earth - and ourselves.

"Give unto the LORD the glory due unto His name: bring an offering, and come before Him: worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness."
(I Chronicles 16:29)
"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service."
(Romans 12:1)


Weekly Memory Verse
   Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
(Hebrews 11:1)
   





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