Here is an interesting thing – in the Apprentice Training Programme, creating MARGIN is the Soul Training exercise linked to the chapter headed God is Holy.
An important aspect of decluttering your life is making space to understand and know God.
Writing about God’s Holiness in Knowing God, J.I. Packer speaks of the goodness and severity of God (p181). He warns against creating a false Santa Claus theology where God’s goodness is welcomed and his severity ignored.
Understanding and responding to all of God’s attributes is both urgent and important.
When do we take time to gaze at the stars – lifting our attention from the urgent issues that shout for our attention and beginning to consider the important issue of seeing ourselves and God in perspective?
The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
Hi Abi – – – I haven’t found enough ‘margin’ to think properly about this – – – but it seems to be so in tune with my current position
As a relatively new Christian, one of the things I found strange was that biblical references all seem to talk about the ‘fear of God’ – – yet 21st century evangelicalism seems to want to treat Him as if he were “some bloke we meet at the pub – – my mate, my chum, my pal – Godda” (apologies to “Gazza”)
If you believe, as I do, that this Thing we call God (not”him” not “her”) is indeed the Creator of the entire Universe ……….. then shouldn’t we have a little bit of AWE ????? Just a little bit of fear of possible judgement ?
That’s not to say we all need to get abjectly self-flagellant about it all, but nevertheless, perspective is important
Does this chime ?????
Col
Col, thank you for coming in on this post and adding your usual thoughtful comments. Yes, what you say chimes deeply with me.
The word ‘awesome’ rings true for me in relation to God – inspiring admiration and apprehension as in Exodus 15:11
Who among the gods is like you, O LORD ? Who is like you— majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?