Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God. ESVUK

Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God. NIV

‘She thinks so much of God that she wouldn’t want to do anything to hurt him.’

A good friend of mine was speaking to me about a good friend of his – someone I was also going to get to know very well in the years to come. He was right. She was by no means perfect, but that deep reverence for God pervaded her life and guided her conduct.

It should be the same for all us: all we who call ourselves Christians.

I have just read (and listened to) a potted biography of the theologian, John Calvin. What stays with me is that Calvin had a profound sense of God: of His reality, majesty and greatness. When we believe in God in the way Calvin did, we will live our lives, not in cringing ”fear”, but with a reverential awe.

Like with the girl mentioned at the beginning, this will affect our behaviour. We will want to be holy (however often we may fall short). We won’t want to do anything to hurt God.