Part 4 of SWAGG's July series about the characteristics of our great God
The word holy has always kind of scared me. I felt like it was something that I had to just figure out on my own how to be. It seemed impossible though, like walking toward the end of pier that stretched out forever. This made me view Christianity as more of a religion than a relationship. But like I do with many of God's characteristics and values, I just had the wrong view.
For us, being holy is choosing to live in a way that shows that we're connected to God - not the world. This makes holiness not a religion thing, but a relationship thing. Furthermore, we can only be holy because God makes us holy by placing the Holy Spirit inside us after we've given our lives to Him. The Holy Spirit then helps us to live holy lives.
This week though, we'll be focusing on God's holiness and how great it is. As I was preparing parts of the devotion for Friday, I realized that this is one of the most eye-opening devotions that God has co-created with me. And it's stuff I should know, but I guess I don't spend enough time thinking about God's holiness, just on my lack of it.
I'm excited to take this week to honor and reflect on God and His great holiness.
Holiness is one of those words that no one really explains, and you just assume it means to always be perfect. In reality, when God talks about holiness, He is saying that something or someone is intentionally being used or acting differently than the world, and instead, for or more like Him.
To understand God’s holiness, let’s turn to His Scripture. Near towards the beginning of the Bible, in Leviticus, we’re told that God is holy. In fact, throughout all of Scripture, we can see that each part of the trinity, the three parts of God (God the Father, Jesus, the Holy Spirit), has been called holy – assuring us that God is completely holy. Genesis tells us that, after the universe had been created, God made the seventh day holy. This means that God can take something common or maybe even messy and make it clean and holy, because of His great holiness. Furthermore, Paul explains that God’s commands are holy. Everything that God values, everything that He asks of us – it is and will always be holy.
By God’s great holiness, we experience these things: First off, He leads us to what’s holy. God desires us to live holy lives, and He helps us to do this by guiding us toward what He values. Secondly, He is always righteous and pure towards us. God can’t do anything wrong or impure towards us, because, in His holiness, He can never operate or have those characteristics. Thirdly, God makes us holy by His holiness. We can’t be holy by ourselves. But, when we give our lives to Jesus and begin a relationship with Him, God places His Holy Spirit inside us. We are now holy and have the help we need to live holy lives.
Here’s what not to do, knowing God’s holiness: Live in impurity – Doing this makes the Holy Spirit inside you live uncomfortably in a dirty mess, let Him help you start the cleaning process. Think that living a holy life makes no difference in the world – Living a holy life prepares us for the special purposes that God’s calling us to. Believe that Jesus is ashamed of you – In the book of Hebrews, it says that Jesus isn’t ashamed of any of us who have made Him the Savior of their lives, and in fact, calls us His sisters and brothers.
God’s Guidance:
Leviticus 11:44 (NIV) – “I am the Lord your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy. Do not make yourselves unclean by any creature that moves along the ground.”
John 17:11 (NIV) – “I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one.”
Mark 1:24 (NIV) – ““What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!””
1 Corinthians 6:19 (NIV) – “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;”
Genesis 2:3 (NIV) – “Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.”
Hebrews 2:11 (NIV) – “Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters.”
Romans 7:12 (NIV) – “So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous and good.”
Exodus 15:13 (NIV) – “In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed. In your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling.”
Romans 11:16 (NIV) – “If the part of the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches.”
John 15:5 (NIV) – ““I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
1 Thessalonians 4:7 (NIV) – “For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.”
Ephesians 4:30 (NIV) – “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.”
2 Timothy 2:21 (NIV) – “Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.”
Application:
1. Ask God to help you to be more intentional about living a holy life
2. Reflect on and pray over the verses from this devotional, that you might get a better grasp of holiness
3. Trust that what God calls you to do is always holy
Strength Point:
God’s holiness is great enough to make us holy through giving us His Spirit to live inside us.
Reflection Question:
What comes to mind when you think of God's holiness?
Prayer Prompt:
Hi Jesus! Thank You for Your great holiness! You are totally and completely pure, Your holiness will never and could never be tainted or rivaled. I’m sorry for when I sadden Your Holy Spirit inside me by continuing in my sin of __, I give that over to You right now. Help me to live a life that reflects my connection to You. I want others to see that I operate through the Holy Spirit, not through the influence of the world around me. I pray that when I’m deep in the mess of my sin, that Your Spirit would help me to begin the cleaning process. Help me to realize that holiness isn’t something that’s scary or __, but a desire for myself as I get to know You better. Thank You for making me holy by placing Your Holy Spirit in me after I accepted You as the Savior of my life. You are absolutely perfect and deserve my purest praises. I love You, Jesus!
A Prayer to Pray Over Others:
Hi Jesus! Thank You for Your great holiness! You are totally and completely pure, Your holiness will never and could never be tainted or rivaled. Help my friend here, if they know You, to live a life that reflects their connection to You. Give them the desire to operate through the Holy Spirit, not through the influence of the world around them. Let others to notice this. I pray that, if they’re deep in the mess of sin, that they would not feel condemned or lost or unloved. That they would, instead, come to You and let Your Spirit help them to begin the cleaning process. Help my friend to realize that holiness isn’t something that’s scary, but a desire for themselves as they get to know You better. Thank You for making anyone who desires and accepts You as the Savior of their life, holy by placing Your Holy Spirit in them. You are absolutely perfect and deserve our purest praises. I love You, Jesus!
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