How Holy are You?

So just how holy ARE you?

God calls on us to be a holy people. The word holy in both Hebrew and Greek means to "stand apart" or to be "set apart". God alone is holy in that He stands apart from the world as a righteous, omnipotent, sovereign creator. We, however, can only be holy as God sets us apart for His service. In the Old Testament law there are many creeping things that were considered unclean, and that therefore would defile anyone partaking.

'And every creeping thing that creeps on the earth shall be an abomination. It shall not be eaten. Whatever crawls on its belly, whatever goes on all fours, or whatever has many feet among all creeping things that creep on the earth—these you shall not eat, for they are an abomination. You shall not make yourselves abominable with any creeping thing that creeps; nor shall you make yourselves unclean with them, lest you be defiled by them. For I am the LORD your God. You shall therefore consecrate yourselves, and you shall be holy; for I am holy. Neither shall you defile yourselves with any creeping thing that creeps on the earth. (Leviticus 11:41-44)

This is a picture of what God is calling us to do. To be separate from the sin of the world, and to be fully devoted to His service.

but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, "BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY." (1 Peter 1:15-16)

It's interesting that the Bible tells us to be holy in ALL our conduct. Why not post Leviticus 11:44 or 1 Peter 1:15 on index cards or sticky notes and display them in your car, work place, house, etc.?

Remember that we are called to be different. Called to be a unique people, zealous for the things of God.

who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works. (Titus 2:14)

I love how the King James Bible speaks in the above verse of God purifying for Himself a "peculiar people", zealous for good works. Are you different enough as a Christ follower that the world knows there is something different about you? Let's be so filled with a passion for God and His ways that everyone wonders what got into us!

Yours in Him,
Pastor B.