The Fountain Day 173: Who makes you holy

None of us are holy on our own merit.  It is God alone Who is holy.  It’s Jesus in us that makes us holy.  We are completely dependent on Jesus.  It is His righteousness that covers us. 

Yes, I know we’ve talked about this before, but it always bears repeating because it’s just so easy for us to fall into pride.  It’s shocking how easily we forget our struggles with the sin that so easily entangles, and suddenly we feel like we’re the most holy person ever…the road from forgiveness to haughtiness is short. 

This leads me to these verses…

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘You must observe My Sabbath.  This will be a sign between Me and you for the generations to come, so you may know that I am the Lord, Who makes you holy.  Exodus 31:12-13

Here we are told that we observe the Sabbath as a sign that we know that He is the Lord. 

It’s so interesting to me that God’s desires our rest as a sign we know Him.  In essence, it’s being willing to allow for a day of rest…letting go of work for a day…choosing rest, instead of striving, that declares we know God.  That’s amazing. 

Only a truly loving God would weave rest into our weekly schedule and somehow make it an acknowledgment of our relationship with Him.

You see, when we choose to rest, we choose to acknowledge that we have no power on our own.  All power, authority, and wisdom come from Him.  It’s not observing the Sabbath that makes us holy…it’s God Who makes us holy.  It’s not behavior of our own that makes us holy…it’s the One we serve Who makes us holy.  This is why the Bible makes sure we know that we don’t get to heaven based on works…and why does it say works won’t get us there?  Lest we boast.  You see, God knows just how easy it is for us to get the “big head”. 

All of the gospel leads us to the fact that we are to be fully dependent upon God. 

“I am the vine; you are the branches.  If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing.”  John 15:5

The scripture doesn’t say, apart from Me you can’t do some things…no, it says, “Apart from Me you can do NOTHING.”

Nothing.

We need Him.  All the time.  In every situation.  We are to remain full time dependents of Him.

That’s such a safe place to live…fully dependent on God. 

If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.  This is to My Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be My disciples.   John 15:7-8