01 January, 2023
The Apostle Peter exhorted the persecuted saints thus: “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). Holiness in the believer is the most important virtue God looks for. The Bible warns us that “Without holiness no one shall see the Lord” (Heb.12:14). The reason being that God is holy and we are to be holy like Him. Heaven is a holy place – without sin or defilement of any kind. Anyone who is not holy will not enter Heaven. An example is seen in the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve were expelled from Eden because they sinned. Eden is a picture of Heaven where the Presence of God is.
Then Peter tells us that we are called to be holy – that is, our calling is a holy calling. Paul also tells us that God “has saved us and called us with a holy calling…according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus” (2 Tim.1:9). In this regard, it also means that we also have a holy purpose in our life in serving and fulfilling the will of God. So, we have to check constantly whether what we are doing is aligned with the holy calling and purpose of God.
The instruction in our text also says that we are to “be holy in all that you do”. “Doing” is all about our life: our character, attitude, motive and activity. Everything that we are, have or do must be holy in the sight of God. That is why Christ tells us that we must “deny self” in order to be His disciples. Self-denial is not just the giving up of things we like or have but is it the giving up of our rights to God because He is Lord and Ruler of our life. Just as the Bible says, “You are no more your own; you have ben bought with a price. Therefore, glorify God in your body and in your spirit which are God’s” (1 Cor.6:19-20). God is the Creator, Redeemer and Owner of all who believe in Christ. The moment we come to Christ we surrender our all – all that we are, have or ever will be – totally to Him. Then are we worthy to be His children and to be accepted into his glorious Kingdom. Without self-denial we won’t be holy.
The Holiness of God also means that we must revere Him when we come into His Presence in prayer and worship. Moses approached the Burning Bush without realizing that God is holy and so God said to him, “Do not draw near this place. Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground” (Exodus 3:5). Where God is, it is holy. Hence the Psalmists said, “Worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness. Tremble before Him, all the earth” (Psa.96:9). When we approach God we are on holy ground.
Let us remember that when we come into His Sanctuary as a Church to worship God, we are coming into a holy place and into His holy Presence. Too often we are so casual and careless in our attitude. We need to learn and change and revere Him and respect the Living and Holy God when we come into His House and worship Him in the beauty of holiness.
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