God: "I looked for someone to take a stand for me, and stand in the gap" (Ezekiel 22:30)
We often hear the 'Savior' characteristics of God stressed – His love, mercy, goodness and so on – but the matter of His lordship is absent. The distortion is particularly clear in evangelism. In modern practice the call to repentance is usually called an 'invitation,' which one can obviously accept or refuse. It is offered politely. Seldom do we hear presented God's sovereign demand to repent or His demand for total submission to the authority of His appointed king, Christ Jesus.
God wants you to be holy. Through faith He already counts you holy in Christ. Now He intends to make you holy with Christ. This is no optional plan, no small potatoes. God saved you to sanctify you. God is in the beautification business, washing away spots and smoothing out wrinkles. He will have a blameless bride. He promised to work in you; He also calls you to work out. “The beauty of holiness” is first of all the Lord’s (Ps. 29:2, KJV). But by His grace it can also be yours.