HOLY TO THE LORD

The garments of the High Priest told us more than we could know. Designed by God Almighty, their purpose was to show, The holiness of someone Who one day would appear. His beautiful exterior made positively clear. The highlight was the headdress He wore upon His head. “Holy to the Lord” is what the Israelites all read. Jesus didn’t need it. Not there and in His time. Some guessed He had a halo but that was not His sign. For nowhere in the Bible is such a headdress seen. Except perhaps by those who were a self appointed queen. This all spoke of His Holiness. For He was Sanctified. Unique, an indication of God’s pure and holy bride. Which tells us that the High Priest could never be “unclean” Sin should never be in Him; a thing no “man” has been. Sanctified completely revealed on Scripture’s page For no one could be glorified without this special stage. But it could be imputed to those who drew in near. And this imputed Holiness, to was God very clear, He Himself was glorified when people praised His name. A thing we feel impossible for any man to claim. Does this describe God’s holiness? This fundamental law? That our imperfect bodies, to God implies far more, Than we could ever understand? It shows God can impute, His Holiness to anyone and no man can refute, The fact that He may do this. God’s righteousness can be, A matter of believing Him and His integrity. So if the Master gives it, why is it we complain, When folk the likes of Abraham will trust God’s Holy Name? We need to understand the fact that He makes all the rules. And if we want to challenge Him, it’s we who are the fools. We know that it is difficult. We think it isn’t fair. But we were given righteousness when weren’t even there! He says that we can have it if in Jesus we believe. He says our sins are washed away! That’s not what we perceive. And so the sign of Holiness that’s fastened to our head, Is something we will only see the moment we are dead. So let us start believing we’re holy to our King! What could be more important than this amazing thing? Jim Strickland – written Friday, 26 August 2011

PERCEPTIONS

 What is our perception of the people whom we see?

Some of them look wonderful; a bit like you and me?!

Others aren’t so pretty and then we wonder why?

And ask for the opinion of God who reigns on high.

Of course we needn’t bother. We know what He will say.

We only get approval from Him when we obey.

But since we’re seldom listening, the only thing we hear,

Is what we know is not the thing He whispered in our ear!

If this is confusing, then you have got it right.

We’re busy second guessing what‘s pleasing in God’s sight!

The first thing to appreciate is what comprises sin.

Is it a reflection of the mood that we are in?

Is it something that we do to aggravate the Lord?

Or something much more sinister that God will not applaud?

The answer is quite simple; It’s clear as clear can be.

You don’t need rocket science or eschatology.

You only need the Word of God to see as plain as day,

Exactly what is needed, no matter what we say.

The easy to check this out is looking in God’s law.

He wrote it out on Sinai and it’s without a flaw.

He Gave us 10 Commandments that He insists we keep,

Without a word of protest though the content makes us weep.

He’s said we all must keep them. They’re still in force today.

You must not circumnavigate these laws in any way.

Not one of them is optional. Each one is a command.”

And if we break just one of them, we know we will be damned.

We don’t have to agree with them; such thoughts aren’t worth a fig.

But if you ever break one, your problem’s very big.

The Lord will not be pleased with you and you will have to die,

Unless you have an advocate on whom you can rely.

His fees are not expensive. His package comes for free.

But that is not the end of it, for those like you and me.

The truly burning question confronting all of us,

Is wherein lies our future? And should we make a fuss;

If we’re consigned to heaven, or cast into flames?

That’s when we’ll need the certainty of Jesus And His names.

That’s when all our perceptions, whatever they may be,

Will disappear completely in Christ’s reality.

Jim Strickland – written Thursday, 25 August 2011