Holy Fear or Comforting Friend?

Hi again friends,

I have a question for you? Do you see God through the eyes of Holy fear or as a comforting Friend?

This is something I have been pondering a lot the last few weeks. It started as I was working on the Special needs Bible Study curriculum. I was trying to locate a verse, but was not at home where my computer or our mounds of reference books are located. All I had was a little pocket style Bible with a small concordance at the end. Of Course, I could not locate the verse I wanted easily so I had to thumb through the book. I knew it was in Joshua. As I skimmed through, reading a little bit of each passage, I became intrigued with one of the stories. Two words leaped off the page and attached themselves to both my brain and my spirit.

"Consecrate yourselves."

In context the children of Israel were about to cross the Jordan into the promised land. God told them to "Consecrate themselves" for He was going to do a mighty work among them.

These words so grabbed me, that I thought about them almost nonstop the whole next two days.

What did it mean to consecrate yourself?
Why did they need to consecrate themselves?
Do I need to consecrate myself?
Am I not consecrated through the blood of Jesus?

As I have meditated, prayed, searched other scriptures and listened closely to what is going on in the world today, I have come to believe that I often do not see God as Holy.
I know in my head that He is holy, but often I do not treat Him or think of Him as Holy. I think of Him as my friend, as my Daddy. Now, please don't hear I think that's wrong. Jesus told us that God was our Daddy. But I do believe that most of us have it too one sided. We see God as our cuddly daddy not the High Mighty King that He is.

He is Holy! White Hot Holy! So Holy that we can not even today look at His face. So pure and Holy that the sun looks dim compared to the whiteness of the glow that surrounds Him.
So holy that sin sizzles and can not even be looked upon by Him.

Do you or I recognize this in our daily lives? I am not talking about sitting around in sack cloths and ashes, or fasting. I'm talking about our complacency. Maybe, I sometimes think of God as too much of my buddy instead of my God.

You may not have this problem or even believe that we need to see God as Holy today. I do believe that I am made righteous before God through the blood of Jesus. It is nothing I can do on my own. However, If my body is truly the temple of God....?

Should I not examine more closely what I see? (TV, movies) What I hear? (music choices, course talk, gossip) What I do? Where I go? I mean, if I am taking God or His Spirit every where I am and making Him do everything I do....well shouldn't I be more selective?

1 Peter 1:13-16 Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. 14 As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy." NIV

There are many times when I need to crawl up into My Father's lap and cuddle there. There are times when I need to sit beside Him and laugh together at the world. There are times when I need to run to Him and dance with Him. There are times when I need His pat on the back or a spiritual hug.

But there are also times...when I need to understand WHO HE IS and bow before Him as my God...The Holy One.

Pray for me as I learn what it means to consecrate myself.

I love you all so much!
Pamela