"Do We Really Understand Holy?"

By Zach Wood

1 Peter 1:13-16

Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace

to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.  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; for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy."

 

 

We have probably read Scriptures so many times that have referred to God as Holy.  We have heard sermons talking about how Holy He is.  We have been to conferences where we learned of His Holiness.  We have been to retreats where we talk about Holiness and what it means to us personally.  We say we want to be Holy.  We sing about being Holy at church on Sunday morning.  We sing many songs about Holiness when we go to conferences. 

 

Do we truly understand what being Holy means?  Maybe we should think about what God considers Holy and what we consider Holy?  It might be quite different.  If we stopped to really think about it and pondered deeply, we would probably realize that God's standard of Holiness and ours are completely different. 

 

God is Holy.  He is pure Holiness.  Lately, I have been thinking more and more about Holiness and what it means.  To be honest with you, I feel like I am on the total opposite side of what Holiness really means.  I think about my life and my dedication and I question whether I truly understand what striving to be holy really means.  I have a long way to go in my understanding. 

 

As we look at this passage, we see that Peter said we need to prepare our minds for action and be self-controlled.  Being Holy does not just come naturally.  It is truly a quality we have to work at and become disciplined.  God is Holy and calls each and every one of us as well to be Holy.  If we are to be obedient children, then we need to obey our Father and strive to do our best in being more Holy. 

 

Being Holy in all we do is God's ultimate desire.  He wants us to become so Holy that all we think about is Him in every aspect of our lives.  When we are striving to live Holy lives, we are in constant worship before Him.  We are then exalting Him and pleasing Him in every way.  He calls us to be Holy. 

 

So the question is left for every single one of us, "Do We Really Understand Holy?"