"Don't sweat it"
They must wear linen turbans and linen undergarments. They must not wear anything that would cause them to perspire. (Ezekiel 44:18 NLT)
This verse seems a bit ridiculous to me at first reading. They can't even sweat in God's presence?
It may seem a bit ridiculous to us but there is a purpose. Just when we think we have understood the depth of the holiness of God, verses like this bring us back to reality. He is holy. Much more holy than we live in light of.
God has over 600 commands that he gave his people about how they are to approach him. It can be somewhat demoralizing to try to keep them all. In fact, it's impossible. And yet all of these commands point to something, God must be approached in a certain way. His holiness demands it. Even when it comes to a simple matter of sweating. His priests could not sweat in his presence.
I think I get comfortable with God & often forget he's holy. It's verses like these that remind me. Even Jesus said in the model prayer that our prayers should include an acknowledgement about the holiness of his name. When we pray, we should remember he is holy.
The holiness of God cannot be overstated. We can't know it enough or be shaped by it enough. He is familiar & yet unique. He is both father & holy.
How have we let the familiarity of God dampen his holiness in our understanding & our lives?
It's a powerful reminder that if we can't sweat in God's presence, how can we ever be good enough or do enough good things to be accepted by him? We can't. Not even close. So stop trying & start trusting. We should start trusting in Jesus, the only one who was able to fulfill all the requirement of a holy God. The only one who could enter God's holy presence perfectly.
So trusting is the key & not trying. Which one are we doing?
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