"Woe to me!" [Isaiah] cried. "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty."
In a time when God's name is so readily taken in vain, this passage has a refreshing bite and warning: God is vastly superior and far more holy than we can ever be on our own merits. To come into his presence should shock us into the instant realization of how utterly sinful we have been and how unworthy we are to be in the presence of the King of Glory. To experience God, to stand before his incomparable presence, is to be aware of his holiness and humbled into an awe-filled reverence with deep thankfulness. God's name, holiness, and majesty confront us with our need for reverence in his presence are suddenly no longer a theory. Once we glimpse it, the Lord's name, holiness, and majesty become the passions of our lives!
My Prayer...
O Almighty God, forgive me for the times I have not taken your holiness and honor seriously. Forgive me for using your holy name in ways that do not honor and glorify you. Forgive me for not treasuring the many names you have used to reveal your greatness and tenderness in Scripture. Forgive me because I know my imperfections, shortcomings, failures, and sinfulness. Without your grace, your holiness would be too pure for me to survive in your presence. Instead, dear Father, you welcome as your beloved child! Because of your grace, I can approach you with joy and anticipation! Thank you! Thank you, in Jesus' name. Amen.
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"[To the disciples, Jesus continued,] "I am not saying these things to all of you; I know the ones I have chosen. But this fulfills the Scripture that...."
"This teaches us that the comfort obtained by a one may often prove serviceable to another; just as wells would be used by the company who came after....."
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