We all need a good dose of teaching on the holiness of God. In Deuteronomy 8:11-18, God warned the Israelites not to forget Him so they wouldn’t say in their hearts, “my power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth” (v. 17). If the Israelites, who saw a physical manifestation of God in His rescue from Egypt and in His appearance at Mount Sinai, could fall away, how much more should we guard against forgetting? If they needed a reminder from God and “these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did” (1 Cor. 10:6), we ought to slow down and meditate on God’s holiness.

Allen Nelson’s Before The Throne beckons us to slow down and really ponder what it means to say, “God is holy”. He also urges us to pause and really think about how impossible it is to fully grasp God rather than assuming we have Him all figured out. If there’s anything to learn from this book, it’s that “the holiness of God is unspeakable” (p. 30). Every page is a powerful reminder that God is infinitely immense and too grand to figure out with our feeble human minds.

Nelson is not focused on bringing any new doctrines or theories on the holiness of God. He states early in the book: “there is nothing new I can tell you about God’s holiness that Scripture has not already plainly stated” (p.2). He draws from a rich heritage on writings on holiness ranging from John Calvin to R.C. Sproul, but his primary focus is on the writings of God’s Word. There is no greater source for discussing and describing holiness than to go to the Fountain of the infinite holiness who is to be desired and enjoyed forever.

The aim of this book is not a mere academic understanding of God’s holiness. This would totally miss the mark of Scripture and be an absolute failure! Rather, Nelson knows that “we were made to adore (God)” and writes from that doxological perspective throughout this work (p. 3). We are drawn to adoration and thanksgiving as we consider that God condescended to share Himself with feeble and sinful humanity. We are unworthy of such grace, but God has shown us Himself in His Word.

Each chapter has questions for group discussion or family worship along with a Scripture review section. This brings Before The Throne even more down to earth as it can easily be brought home to our daily life and our homes. And lest you think this book is solely focused on God the Father, leaving no room for the gospel, 
Nelson brings the gospel throughout this book. Here’s one specific example:

“In other words, Christ took our place on the cross so that in Him God could ‘by no means clear the guilty.’ God punished our guilt in Christ, and by faith in Christ gives us Jesus’s righteousness as a free gift.” (p.112).

If you’re looking for a book to study that is rich with scripture and theology, this is the book for you. If you’re looking for a devotional read that will challenge you to love and stand in awe of God, look no further. Before The Throne packs a one-two punch of doctrine and devotion that is sure to bless many a soul. Though it’s deep and there are some technical words and mentions of Greek and Hebrew, it’s accessible, doxological, and devotional. Nelson draws from the deep wells of Scripture as well as the writings of renowned saints throughout church history. Take the deep dive into the holiness of God with Allen Nelson!

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Do You Keep Your Bible Open?

Lately I've been keeping an open Bible on my desk at work. Before you think I'm being self-righteous, it's not an attempt to show off to my boss or coworkers, nor is it to "preach the gospel and, if necessary, use words". I actually got the idea after hearing about the devotional life of a godly man who mentioned keeping open Bibles around so he could be consistently in God's Word.

This tidbit of wisdom seemed genius, and I wanted to put it to the test. I recently read Andy Crouch's Tech-Wise Family and I'm finishing up The Common Rule by Justin Whitmel Earley. These books speak of the importance of habits and nudges that help guide our lives in the direction we want them to go. 

So far, keeping a Bible open has been a great nudge in the right direction, and I want to share a couple of reasons I've found it helpful.

An open Bible helps me read Scripture more frequently. 
Too often, I find myself confining Bible reading to a "quiet time". While I highly value having a daily quiet time with the Lord, there are nights that I stay up late and mornings that I sleep in. However, the blessed person is the one whose "delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His law he meditates day and night" (Psalm 1:1-2). In order to meditate day and night, I need more than just a once-a-day encounter with scripture. I also desire to at least read and pray morning and night.

Keeping my Bible open helps me meditate in two very practical ways:

1. It allows for repeated reading. One of the best ways to meditate on Scripture is to read it repeatedly. I love taking a verse like Hebrews 2:1, which I've been memorizing, and reading it over and over throughout the day. As I read the words, the meaning of the words begins to take root in my mind and I find myself thinking of ways to understand apply the passage to practice. How can I pay much closer attention to what I've heard? Why is that important to keep me from drifting? How have I seen drift in my life? 
2. It aids in scripture memory. I've already alluded to it, but repeated reading aids in memorization. Seeing it, saying it, and thinking about it brings the Word into our hearts and minds. 

An open Bible leads to spiritual conversations
At home, if my Bible is open on my desk, counter, or table, I am ready to look at some passage of scripture to discuss with my wife and children. Some of the best spiritual conversations I have with my wife are when we are wrestling with a truth in Scripture that has perplexed us both. It usually starts out with, "this may be a dumb question, but...".  It always ends in us discussing and searching scripture to find the answers. If I'm reading Hebrews 2:1 over and over, it may lead to discussion about how to guard ourselves against apostasy. That may then lend itself to some discussion during family worship. 

At work, I am able to take a few minutes to read scripture on breaks or at lunch. When I’m actively reading and thinking about the Word, it’s more likely to mix into my conversations and allow me to witness effectively to my colleagues. While I may not quote a specific passage, I’ll certainly be reminded not to try to hide my faith or operate from a secular worldview. Rather, I’ll be more likely to let the words I’ve been glancing at to season my speech with grace. In a postmodern society, this will prove to be an effective way to witness to your coworkers.

An open Bible impacts how I live
It would be foolish to claim that the world doesn’t influence me throughout the day. From a tough student to a slow-moving tractor on a two lane road, sin is crouching at the door. If I’ve been reading scripture I may still fall into that temptation. But the chances of escaping temptation are higher when my mind is set on the Spirit and I’m putting my sin to death. How often have you found yourself in a temptation only to remind yourself of something you read or heard earlier in scripture? That’s the Spirit working through His Word to sanctify you. 

If we strive to be doers rather than hearers of the Word, then reading the Word frequently will change how we live each day (James 1:22). If we are drawn to worship from a passage in the Psalms, that love for God will spill over into our work. If we have been convicted about not loving our spouse by reading Ephesians 5, that will change our home life. If we’ve just confessed pride, lust, or worldliness because we’ve been convicted by scripture, we will be more likely to forgive as God forgave us. The Spirit uses His Word in our normal, mundane, everyday lives to give us the holiness without which no one will see God (Hebrews 12:14). 

Give it a try
Keep your Bible open for a week and try to intentionally read at least a verse each time you pass by. I am confident that your life will be impacted by it. If you’re like me and youve got a bunch of Bibles, set one in a few different places. As you go through your day—especially when you feel nudged to check in on social media or waste the time doing something else, take a few minutes to read a verse, think about it, and pray. Surely it will be beneficial to be with God for those few minutes, right?

What are some other small nudges or habits that have helped you spend more time in God’s Word? How have they benefitted your spiritual and devotional life?

Apostasy often happens with subtlety. Notice the signs and guard yourself against turning away from the faith.