This is Felicia Ferguson with Christian Mix 106, helping you build faith for the journey.
I read several versions of the Bible, the English Standard and Holman Christian for study. New King James for memorization. And the Passion Translation for general enjoyment. As I opened to Psalm 8 in my copy of the Passion Translation, my heart caught on the subtitle of the chapter. “For the Pure and Shining One.” There are so many facets to God and his nature that we can focus too much on one and forget the others. In my life, I’ve been taught God is father. He is approachable with my every need. He is a friend and closer than a brother.
This is all wonderful and absolutely true. But he is also Holy. Pure and shining. Filled with awesome power. When was the last time I saw him not as a friend or loving father, but as the King of Kings. Holy. All powerful. And I just worshipped his greatness? I don’t remember. What about you? Is Holy the first word that comes to mind when you think of God? Or is it something more approachable?
Does the reality that God is first and foremost holy make you question your worthiness of a relationship with him? If so, good. That’s why Jesus came after all. No matter how good we are, we will always be sinners. We will always need a savior to cover our sins so that we can stand before a Holy, a pure and shining God.
Every so often as you pray, instead of starting with thankfulness or even the needs of others, begin by saying the prayer the angels pray, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty. Who was, and is, and is to come.” And I can almost guarantee you that an awed reverence for his holiness, his pure and shining nature, will overwhelm you.
This is Felicia Ferguson. Thanks for listening to Christian Mix 106.