The Fear of the Lord...

16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said:

"I will dwell in them

And walk among them.

I will be their God,

And they shall be My people."

17 Therefore

"Come out from among them

And be separate, says the Lord.

Do not touch what is unclean,

And I will receive you."

18 "I will be a Father to you,

And you shall be My sons and daughters,

Says the LORD Almighty."—2 Corinthians 6:16-18

Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.—2 Corinthians 7:1

God’s precious promises to us, His beloved children, are powerful reasons for us to follow hard after Him.  Part of following hard after Him is pursuing holiness.  I have to confess here that holiness is very difficult for me to picture especially given my Catholic upbringing.  It just seems somewhat otherworldly and unattainable here on earth.  I think, however, that that is the right feeling because it IS otherworldly and unattainable here in this fallen world.  As believers, we now have the power through the Spirit NOT to sin. None of us, however, will obtain sinlessness this side of heaven. However, by God’s grace we will hopefully sin LESS...

Do I make holiness a goal, though?  For me the short answer is no.  The longer answer is definitely not in the way that I should. A verse from Hebrews always comes to mind here...

For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin. Hebrews 12:3-4

I definitely have not resisted to bloodshed striving against sin.  I think I trust a little too much in the verse that says where sin abounds, grace abounds much more.  That verse should not make me be lax about my sin...that is definitely not what it is saying. Instead, it should increase my desire not to sin out of thanksgiving toward God and what He has done.  I think my problem in a nutshell is that my view of God is a little skewed. My reverential fear has been lessened by my familiarity with Him. For example, when I am in the company of those with whom I am familiar and whom I trust, I can become lax and careless with my words. I complain about my aches and pains, I speak what I am thinking or I say things that are better off left unsaid. My words can also be sharp and impatient reflecting whatever emotion might be the abundance of my heart in that moment.  I forget that I live in the Presence of my God who sees all. I forget that the living God lives in me! 

Father...Give me a constant awareness of Your Presence.  Remind me of who I am and who You ARE.  Bring my sinful heart that is often filled with me, myself and I to the foot of the cross.  My sin cost the death of Your precious Son.  Forgive me!  Make holiness...daily, hourly, moment by moment something I long for.  Pour out Your Spirit and enable my “conversation” in this world to be acceptable in Your sight.  May my heart say along with Job’s:

“I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear,

But now my eye sees You.

Therefore I abhor myself,

And repent in dust and ashes."—Job 42:5-6

9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever;

The judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.

10 More to be desired are they than gold,

Yea, than much fine gold;

Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

11 Moreover by them Your servant is warned,

And in keeping them there is great reward.

12 Who can understand his errors?

Cleanse me from secret faults.

13 Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins;

Let them not have dominion over me.

Then I shall be blameless,

And I shall be innocent of great transgression.

14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart

Be acceptable in Your sight,

O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer.—Psalm 19:9-14