Written by Stefan Johnsson
The Word
23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. 24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.
1 Peter 2:23-24 (ESV)
10 Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him;
Isaiah 53:10-11
he has put him to grief;
when his soul makes an offering for guilt,
he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days;
the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.
11 Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied;
by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant,
make many to be accounted righteous,
and he shall bear their iniquities.
The Holiness of God is death to all that is in contact with sin. Only through death, through blood-shedding, was there access to the Holiest of all. Christ chose death, even death as a curse, that He might sanctify Himself for us, and open to us the path to Holiness, to the Holiest of all, to the Holy One. And so it is still. No man can see God and live. It is only in death, the death of self and of nature, that we can draw near and behold God. Christ led the way. No man can see God and live. “then let me die, Lord,” one has cried, “but see Thee I must.” Yes, blessed be God, so real is our interest in Christ and our union to Him, that we may live in His death, as day by day self is kept in the place of death, the life and the holiness of Christ can be ours.
Andrew Murray, Holy in Christ
Reflection
God proclaimed to Moses on Mount Sinai that no one has ever seen His Face and lived (Exodus 33:20). It is because of our sinful nature that we are unable to look upon God’s holiness and live. Though, God has made a way for us to know Him. The Apostle John proclaims in chapter 1 of his gospel, “No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is Himself God and is at the Father’s side, has made Him known” (v. 18). It is through Jesus that we come to know who God the Father is, His goodness and righteousness.
Holiness is not something we are able to achieve on our own. We were born in sin and proclaimed enemies of God as we all went astray. There was no possible way that we would ever be able to look upon God’s glory through our own righteousness. Yet, God made a way. Jesus, being fully man and fully God, made Him known. He lived a perfect life and died a death that was meant for us. And it was through Jesus’ resurrection that we are now able to die to our old self and nature, and rise up as new creations, filled with the Holy Spirit and set apart as a people of God.
Application
Christ’s death on the cross made a way for us and the Holy Spirit binds us to God for eternity. We will be able to abide in God’s presence in heaven when we die. Though, while we live on this earth today, we can taste God’s goodness and Holiness through the Holy Spirit. It is our connection with the Holy Spirit that we can experience God’s glory and live in such a way to praise Him.
Dwell on all that Jesus has done for you on the cross as you fast. He made a way for you to experience the presence of God on this earth and later in heaven. We have been set apart as a people of God, adopted and grafted into the living Vine.
Prayer
Father in heaven, thank You for sending Your son to die for my sins. I am able to put to death my old self and to live a life dedicated to Your will and presence. Help me to be reminded of all You have accomplished so that I can dwell in Your glory. Let me sings praises to You and to be filled with Your Holy Spirit. In the name of Jesus I pray, amen.
City Life Starter 
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