His Holiness!

Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous, and give thanks to his holy name. 
~Psalm 97:12


I was reminded of the holiness of God after reading this verse. I have heard it said that God's holiness is His most important attribute, because this is what sets Him apart from other gods. The KJV says it this way: "give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness". This is the attribute that the angels speak of around the throne of God. "Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come". (Revelation 4:8). 1 Peter calls us to be holy as the Lord Himself is holy. Holiness means consecration to the service of God. That means that all our thoughts, our actions, and our being is set-apart for the work of God. We are His ambassadors here, and our life must demonstrate that we were called out of the world's darkness and into His light.

God's holiness is not only something we're to emulate, but His holiness also shows us what we are not. God's purity stands in stark contrast to the lives of mankind, and the more we know of God's holiness, the more we will see the sin in ourselves and others. The holiness of God in the Old Testament caused men to fall on their faces in worship to Him. Moses and Joshua were told to remove their shoes as they were standing in the presence of a holy God. Isaiah recognized his sinfulness as he saw the Lord on His throne. God's presence filled the Temple with His holiness and those who entered without permission into the Holy of Holies would die.

God's holiness is something we're to give thanks for. Without the holiness of God no one can see the Lord, and to be judged for all eternity would mean certain death for us. But it was the holiness of God and His Son that enabled Him to die in our place. Because of His perfection, He could stand before God--a God before whom no man could stand--and call us holy, righteous, and pure, because of our faith in Christ. Because of His holiness a Perfect Sacrifice was offered once and for all, providing the means to cleanse our sin forever. Because of Jesus' holiness, we live under grace, and are freed from the bondage of sin. And because of His holiness we continue to be sanctified and conformed to the likeness of Christ. We have good reason to be thankful.

Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift! 
(2 Corinthians 9:15)

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight. (Proverbs 9:10)

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name!
(Psalm 103:1)