Holy Grail

Feb 7, 2023

Sometimes it’s hard to fathom that the Holy God we serve has also called us to live holy.

If we’re honest, the idea of holiness can be quite intimidating. But let me put your mind at ease when I say that holiness is actually attainable and a gift from God. You see, holiness by definition is righteous living. 1 Peter 1:15-16 says,

But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”

- 1 Peter 1:15-16

When Scripture mentions God’s holiness however, it is referring to His character, His omnipresence, His all-knowingness, His power, and His infinite wisdom, to name a few. So, when you hear the phrase, “we serve a holy God” I want you to be reminded of His character and His infinite abilities.

So, you may be wondering how could I ever be called to this thing called “holiness”?

Well, God has set us apart for Himself. In fact, holiness in Hebrew means set-apartness, sacredness:

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

- 1 Peter 2:9

I’m really into metaphors and one that I’ve researched recently was interesting to me and that is the term, holy grail. The origin meaning is said to have been the cup Jesus drank out of at the Lord’s Supper but, today the meaning of holy grail is defined as anything that is easily sought after.

And I thought that was so appropriate as we dive deep into this attribute of God. Holiness is a gift from God to us but something that we must seek on a daily basis. Our holy grail in Christianity is quite literally “holiness”, the thing that should be the most sought after in our lives. When God sent His son Jesus to save us, it wasn’t so that we would be sinless, or tempted, or even close to perfect. He sent His son Jesus to die for us so that we would be holy:

But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.

- Romans 6:22

Family, to live holy is to be more like Christ. Ephesians 4:23-24 says that we are “to be made new in the attitude of our minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”

So, today may you be reminded that the Holy God we serve is also the One who gave us the gift of holiness, that we may become more and more like Him.