“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.’”
August 21, 2023
What does the word holy mean? It means to be separated, different, set aside for a purpose. In the Church, we observe and celebrate various holidays. Holidays are holy days, days set aside for special purposes. So, a holy person is a person set aside for a special purpose. I don’t belong to me; I’m not my own. I belong to the Lord.
Holiness is not a prideful attitude; it’s just being different. Holiness is not withdrawing. It’s not going off to a monastery or convent somewhere. To be holy means simply to be different from this world. It means to be like God. God is holy, so to be holy is to be like God. Second Peter 3:11 says, “Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness?” What is godliness? It simply means to be devoted to and pleasing to God. If you please God, it doesn’t matter whom you displease. And if you displease God, it doesn’t matter whom you please. We are meant to be pleasing to God.
Look in the Word and make a list of things that are pleasing to the Lord. Consider how this list is different from the things you would naturally value and prioritize.
Discover the character of God through His many names revealed in Scripture. This month-long devotional invites you to read, reflect, and respond to the meaning of God's names, renewing your mind and transforming your heart in faith.