Be Holy

Oct 11, 2021

“Holiness is not the privilege of a chosen few – it is the obligation, the call, and the will of God for every Christian.”

- Mother Angelica

As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”

- St. Peter, 1 Peter 1:14-15

For those of us who have been around the church for a while, it is easy to think about God being Holy. We naturally sing, “Holy, Holy, Holy, are You Lord God Almighty.” It is one of His many attributes or character traits. God is: Holy, Infinite, Immutable (never changing), Self-sufficient, Omnipotent (all powerful), Omniscient (all knowing), Omnipresent (always everywhere), Wise, Faithful, Just and Good. And the list could go on!

However, when I think about “me” being Holy, that is almost laughable. Holiness is often the furthest thing from what I am.

When I yell at the driver who cut me off, I don’t feel very holy.
When I complain that things are not going my way, I don’t feel very holy.
When I am self-centered, and put myself before others, I don’t feel very holy.
When I don’t love my wife the way she deserves to be loved, I don’t feel very holy.
When my words, thoughts and attitudes are not God-honoring, I don’t feel very holy.

And this list could go on, too!

Yet, Holiness is not an option, but a command. I am to be Holy as God is Holy. By dictionary definition, it means that I am to be consecrated and set apart for God. I am to be sacred.

It sounds like an impossible task, so how do I go about doing it? For me, there are three critical steps:

First, I need to recognize that I cannot do it on my own strength. I must surrender to the power of the Holy Spirit in my life.

Secondly, I must spend time with God and in His Word daily, in order that I may know what is true, and right, and pure and holy.

And thirdly, I must seek to take what I have learned from God’s Word and strive each moment of every day to be obedient to Him and His Word, no longer conforming to the patterns of this world.

Be Holy

It is not a destination, it is a journey, but one that is not only worthwhile, but one that is God’s Will for each one of us. We are to Be Holy, as He is Holy.