April 17 – Reading 107

APRIL 17 – Reading 107

by John Christian Pra | April 17

“THE SERIOUSNESS OF HOLINESS”
(2 Samuel 6:1-23; 1 Chronicles 13:1-14, 15:1-16:3, 6:31-53)

“Consecrate yourselves, you and your brothers, so that you may bring up the ark of the LORD, the God of Israel, to the place that I have prepared for it.” – 1 Chronicles 15:12

Why is holiness so serious? For many people, holiness is a long forgotten word that makes people think of an angry God who demands his people to live perfect lives. Our current culture (Christians included) have often sought to water down the call to holiness given to us by God himself by focusing more on His grace as a truer picture of who He is. 

In today’s confusing and somewhat challenging story, God strikes down Uzzah for grabbing a hold of the Ark of the Covenant (the place of God’s Presence). Even David is perplexed by God’s seemingly quick judgment that takes out Uzzah before there is even a chance to explain. But this story reveals to us that God takes holiness seriously. 

This story is more of a reflection of God’s holiness and perfection than it is Uzzah’s mistake. For Uzzah (and the others with him) there was a presumption that they could simply transport the Ark from one place to another. However, as we read later in 1 Chronicles 15, this is refuted and the protocol for moving the Ark of the Covenant was not being carried out. 

The familiar and flippant attitude that these people came to God’s Presence with was unacceptable in His eyes. He had set a standard and they thought they could cut corners around this. God takes holiness seriously. So much so, that after constantly seeing us fail in our pursuit of holy living, our Heavenly Father sent us Jesus, the Holy One, to do what we were incapable of: living holy lives. 

And today, instead of following protocols and pursuing perfection in our own strength, we are being perfected by receiving Jesus and allowing the Holy Spirit within us to purify us and make us more holy. 

To be holy is to become like God. It’s a high calling that is necessary, but one that can  only be accomplished by coming to Jesus. Today, seek to be holy. Do not be terrified of God, but draw near to Him as He has made a way to be holy: His Son Jesus.

Reflections:

• What areas in your life do you find yourself getting familiar with God?
• What does holiness look like in the life of a Christian?
• How can Jesus make us holy today?

Application: 

• Take time to give thanks to God for sending Jesus to us so we could be made holy through Him. 
• Invite the Holy Spirit to examine your heart and reveal what ways you may be presuming upon God’s holiness?
• What areas of life is the Holy Spirit inviting you into deeper holiness?

Closing Prayer…
Holy Father, there is no one like you. Through this story, your holiness and standard has been revealed to me and I come in a posture of repentance recognizing that I have often taken advantage of your grace in my life. Forgive me for being careless and justifying my lifestyle out of carelessness. Jesus, I thank you for your life of holiness that has been given to me through the Holy Spirit. I come to you now asking you to make me more like you and to make me holy as you are holy. I love you. Amen.