Standing Before a Holy God

“With what shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before the High God? Shall I come before Him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?” (Micah 6:6-7, NKJV). 

The Israelites in this passage asked good questions. How can any human approach a holy God? How can we ever please him and be accepted by him? What kind of sacrifice does he want from us: our blood, our bodies, our children?

God’s answer appears throughout Scripture. He does not want our sacrifices, good works, promises or moral deeds. Not one of these fleshly things is acceptable in his sight. Nothing can please or delight him except his Son and all who are gathered in him. Think of the most moral, upright person you know. He or she is not even accepted in God’s presence outside of Christ. That person’s good works, kind nature and generosity are filthy rags in God’s sight. 

So how does God accept us? Paul writes, “To the praise of the glory of his grace, by which he made us accepted in the beloved” (Ephesians 1:6). Our good works come from being in him. 

If you have given your heart fully to Jesus, you have probably voiced the same questions Israel asked. “Oh, God, how can I please you? How can I delight you? I’ve made promises and tried my best, but I take two steps back every time I think I am making progress. Should I read more of the Bible? Should I spend more time in prayer? Should I do more witnessing? Lord, what do you want from me?” 

Beloved, God answers us today as he did Israel. “I don't want any of your sacrifices or good works. I recognize only the work of my Son, who delights and pleases me. I chose you from before the foundation of the world to be wed to my Son. I wooed you, convicted you, and through my Spirit, I brought you into him. I cannot hate my own flesh!”