In His hands is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind (Job 12:10, 13-25) ... We are like windblown leaves, dry chaff (Job 13:25) ... He remembers that we are dust (Psalm 103:14) ... No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived (1Cor 2:9) ... Would not His splendor terrify you? (Job 13:11)
All this time, whenever I've praised His greatness, it was done, for the most part, through the lens of His works personal to me or in the context of nature. Though indeed valid in themselves--more than that, beautiful and liberating--I managed in my mind (and still, naturally cannot help it (1Cor 2:9)) to box in God's... indescribable, immeasurable, incomprehensible... Awesomeness. What mere man (dust) could register His greatness and still be able to utter a word? His splendor isn't described as simply beautiful (tolerably perceivable), but terrifying (unendurable).
Thanks be to Jesus, for in Him and through faith in Him we may approach God with freedom and confidence (Eph 3:12)... yet, honestly, I sigh and hesitate to exclaim this bold statement... I think it's because it makes me prone (rather, I am prone) to sinking into license. It's the inverse relationship of reverence and approachability that I need to somehow reconcile.
Father, forgive me for all the innumerable ways I've failed to live up to Your standards. And thank You for......
Father, Lord Jesus, and Holy Spirit, You are one! And LORD, You came down from Heaven! As (positively and beautifully) terrifyingly splendorous as You are (unapproachable through our own merits), You love us that much that You came to save us! Whoa.....
LORD, thank You for the grace You gift, carrying us through all our failures as we come to You. Help us to grasp what we can of Your splendor and to respond appropriately with our lives and in prayer. Amen.
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