Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come before him: worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness. 1 Chronicles 16:29

Do you ever wonder what God thinks is beautiful?  Every time I read this scripture, “Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness”, it always catches my attention.  This scripture grips my heart!  Why?  Because God is saying that worship resides inside of holiness.  WOW!!  This means that holiness must be offered in order for our worship to be beautiful in the sight of God.  I believe it is vital to explain what the word holiness means.  Holiness is not only abstaining from sexual immorality.  Rather, holiness is more accurately described as wholeness.  Wholeness is what God desires and what He sees as beautiful.  Wholeness will produce sexual holiness, but this scripture has much deeper implications then sexual immorality.  God desires wholehearted worshipers.

I have found myself fighting for wholeness.  Everyday I must make the decision to be wholehearted.  I am learning that God truly wants all of me, not just parts of me.  Sometimes, I find it easier to pick and choose what parts I will give to God, but I am slowly learning to give God all of me, not just the parts that are easy or convenient.  Jesus was trying to convey the message of wholeness when He said above all else, “Love the Lord your God with ALL of your heart”.  The words of Jesus still ring true today—GOD WANTS ALL OF YOU!  Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness!