It’s relatively easy to sing about God’s holiness…and we should…but sometimes I wonder if what comes out of our mouths in expressive praise actually springs from an awe-filled awareness of God’s holiness? Pastor Paul Tripp says that “We should always live in the life-shaping awe of the dangerous holiness of God. If we were able to stand as we are in God’s presence, not only would we be overwhelmed with His incalculable holiness, but we would be filled with dread and grief at the extent of our unholiness.”[1]

The very real reality of God’s life-shaping holiness was not lost on the writer of Hebrews when he penned these words: “…our God is a consuming fire” (Heb 12:29). What’s interesting about the context of that statement is the fact that the recipients of that letter were probably huddled together in a secret place, knowing that persecution for their faith (and their worship) was imminent. And yet, the writer of Hebrews reminded those incredibly faithful believers that God’s holiness is a consuming fire.

I’m not persecuted for my faith. I live in comfort and ease, so much so that it’s easy to forget about the “life-shaping awe of the dangerous holiness of God.” And when I try to ponder God’s perfectly perfect holiness in comparison with the seriousness of my sinfulness, I can get discouraged. How can I possibly “be holy as He is holy.” (1 Peter 1:16). The writer of Hebrews may give us a clue: Earlier in chapter 12, he writes, “See to it that you do not reject the one who speaks.” (Heb 12:25) The One who speaks is Christ, through His Word that never returns void.

As ministry teams, choirs, orchestras, and worship bands reassemble during your church’s fall kickoff season, let’s encourage our people (and ourselves) to press into the Word of God and “not reject the one who speaks” so that we get more than just a glimpse of our holy God. Let’s not let the manna we feasted on yesterday rot today or tomorrow. May the Holy Spirit work in us the desire to long for the Word so that it saturates our minds and hearts. And as the Spirit of God through the Word of God penetrates our minds and hearts, perhaps we can live more intentionally in the “life-shaping awe of the holiness of God.” And then, when we sing of God’s holiness, we’ll have a better idea of what that really means for us…life-shaping awe

[1] Paul Tripp, Everyday Gospel (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2024), 53.