Holy
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Day 1 - God is Unique in His Holiness
Sometimes, when we're really feeling something, we use the word "holy" to add extra emphasis – like "holy smokes," "holy cow," or "holy moly." Interestingly, many cultures' strongest swear words pair "holy" with something profane. But none of these phrases actually make sense with the real meaning of the word "holy." In Hebrew, the word for holy, "qodesh" (ko'-desh), means “set apart” or “separate from.” According to this definition, there's nothing in this world that's truly set apart or separate from everything else. Everything and everyone shares qualities or traits with others; nothing is truly unique or categorically distinct. Except God. He stands alone in His uniqueness.
So, what sets Him apart? What makes Him different? It's His holiness. Only He possesses absolute purity, untainted by sin or evil. He's perfect in every way, the very standard of goodness itself. There's no moral deficiency in His character; everything He does and says is right. His holiness isn't just a part of who He is – it is who He is. God’s holiness is His foundational attribute. It sets precedence for the rest of His attributes. If God were to lose His holiness, He wouldn't be God anymore. He is 100% holy, 100% of the time. This knowledge should give us 100% comfort. Our God is set apart and there is none like Him.
Holy Lord, As I ponder Exodus 15:11, I'm awestruck by Your holiness. Your majesty, Father, fills me with wonder. Grateful for Your uniqueness, unstained by sin, I find reassurance in Your unchanging nature. This week, may Your holiness be my meditation. Help me grasp it deeper and reflect it. Guide me to share its beauty with others, drawing them to You. In Your most holy name, Amen.
Day 2 - God is Holy, Holy, Holy
The Bible is full of words and writing techniques, contributing to its beautiful story. In the book of Isaiah, a scene unfolds where the seraphim (angels) cry out, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God almighty!” This repeated phrase is only used twice in the Bible- one time in the Old Testament (Isaiah) and one time in the New Testament (Revelation). Holy is also the only attribute of God repeated three times. The use of repetition as a literary device signals that we should slow down and pay extra attention because it is used to highlight a concept. The use of holy three times is like saying, “The Lord is really, really, really holy,” or “God is completely holy, utterly holy, always holy.” Using "holy" once is significant, but repeating it three times emphasizes its importance, is not to be overlooked.
Earlier in Isaiah 6, we encounter a vivid image: God’s robe filling the temple. This imagery might remind us of elaborate coronation ceremonies we’ve seen on TV or read about in history class. One example is that of Queen Elizabeth II. She wore an astonishing 21-foot, 15-pound robe! The robes of kings and queens have historically symbolized their power, prestige, and honor. The longer the robe the more powerful the ruler. It is safe to say there has never been a ruler with a robe that “filled the temple.” Even the most powerful kings and queens pale in comparison to the magnificence of God. While their royal robes may be beautiful and command attention, God’s robe causes us to drop to our knees in awe of his holiness. Stop for a moment and picture these differences. Let your imagination paint a picture of God’s robe and His majesty and compare that to the measurable robes of the kings and queens on earth.
These phrases should remind us of the holiness of our God. Earthly kings and queens have power and prestige, but only our God is holy, holy, holy. Only His robe fills the temple.
Holy Father, With the seraphim, I join in declaring: Holy, Holy, Holy are You! In humility, I acknowledge I am: unworthy, unworthy, unworthy You are a God whose robe fills the temple. I don’t even have a royal robe. You are absolute authority. You are divine perfection. Your splendor is incomparable. Though earthly kings and queens may rise and fall, You, O Lord, remain steadfast on Your holy throne!! I praise you with all that I am, grateful for serving a God who is like no other. In your most holy and precious name, I pray, Amen.
Day 3 - God’s Holiness is Glorious and Terrifying
Understanding God's holiness in relation to us can be a bit of a puzzle. On one hand, we're encouraged to boldly approach His presence and receive His grace, drawn to Him because He's our creator. But on the other hand, we're imperfect, sinful beings standing before a God of absolute purity who can't tolerate sin. His holiness is awe-inspiring, yet it can also be quite frightening.
Consider Isaiah, a respected prophet who, when confronted with a vision of God on His throne, exclaimed, "Woe is me!" rather than "Wow!" In the presence of the Holy God, Isaiah, despite his elevated status as a prophet, felt utterly inadequate and unworthy. A similar response to God's holiness is seen in Exodus when Moses caught a glimpse of God's back, causing his face to shine so brightly that the Israelites trembled in fear. God's holiness both comforts and threatens our sinful lives.
Today, people often react to God's holiness in a few common ways. Some keep Him at a distance, afraid of what might happen to them if they get too close. Others come into His presence with irreverence, believing that their sins don't really matter to Him or that He'll overlook their mistakes because He's obligated to forgive.
But here's the thing: God doesn't grade on a curve. Our treatment of Him isn't compared to others', but to what He truly deserves. We should never approach God casually or flippantly. Instead, our attitude toward the heavenly Father should be filled with reverent fear. Proper reverence doesn't push us away from God; it draws us closer to Him.
So let's remember: God's holiness is both glorious and terrifying. And let's treat it with the respect and awe it deserves.
Holy God, Forgive me for the times I've disrespected Your holiness. I confess there have been times when I approached You casually, without proper reverence. I have diminished the seriousness of the sin in my life, treating it as a minor issue rather than acknowledging its true significance. Help me to be more like Isaiah, who recognized his unworthiness in Your presence and cried out for mercy.
Give me a healthy perspective and respect for Your holiness, while also drawing me closer to the comfort it provides. I am so unworthy, Lord, but You are worthy of it all. In your most holy and precious name I pray, Amen
Day 4 - God’s Holiness Draws Us to Jesus
It is no secret that the world is getting darker and darker. Sin runs rampant across the globe. Evil is increasing and often appears to be winning. Everywhere we turn we encounter pain, suffering, and devastation. We need the holiness of God because it offers us everything the world cannot: hope, restoration, and peace.
Sin's presence is nothing new. From the moment Adam and Eve took a bite of the forbidden fruit, sin entered the world. In the Old Testament, particularly in the book of Leviticus, we see elaborate rules and rituals designed to cleanse people from sin and allow them to enter into God's presence. The Levites were appointed as priests to perform these rituals, acting as mediators between God and His people, the Israelites. Their role was crucial in maintaining the holiness of the temple and facilitating communion between God and His people. However, in the New Testament, God enacted a new and final solution to the problem of sin. He sent Jesus as the ultimate sacrifice for all humanity's sins. Through His death and resurrection, Jesus became our mediator, bridging the gap between sinful humanity and a holy God. No longer bound by the rituals of the Old Testament, we can now approach God's throne directly through Jesus.
As New Testament believers, we can now bring our sin directly to God’s holy presence through Jesus. We can repent, laying our sins at His feet and receiving forgiveness and cleansing. Jesus pulverizes our sin! The goodness and holiness of God melts it away. Our sin cannot survive His presence. Though we may be unworthy and broken, Jesus, who is perfectly holy, intercedes for us before the Father, pleading our case and covering us with His righteousness.
Father, thank you for sending your son. Thank you, Jesus, for coming as a man, living a sinless life, and going to the cross for my sins. I praise you for your resurrection; death could not hold you. Forgive me for all the ways I fall short and live for myself and not for you. Forgive me for my intentional and unintentional sins. I lay it all at your feet. Melt my sins away, Lord. Help me to be more like you. I need your holiness, Lord. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
Day 5 - “Be Holy, for I Am Holy”
Understanding God's holiness can be a bit tricky for us humans. Unlike some of God's other traits, like faith, patience, and love, which we can relate to, holiness is different. It's not something we naturally have. It's a special quality of God that makes Him pure, completely good, and way beyond what we can fully grasp. But here's the cool part: through our relationship with Jesus, we get a taste of that holiness. This is called imputed righteousness. It means that when we put our faith in Jesus, we immediately “put on” His holiness. When we believe in Him, His goodness covers us, making us holy too. We're made holy not because we're naturally that way, but because of Jesus.
In the Bible, God repeatedly tells us to "be holy because I am holy." That means He wants us to be like Him in how we live our lives. It's not just a one-time thing. It's a journey called sanctification. It's about growing to be more and more like Jesus and less like the world around us. And guess what? We're not on this journey alone. The Holy Spirit is our guide. He helps us become more like Jesus and avoid the stuff that pulls us away from God. But here's the catch: we've got to be willing to let Him lead us. So, when we decide to follow the Holy Spirit's lead and live like Jesus, we become more and more holy, just like He is. It's all about taking steps, one at a time, to be more like the holy God we believe in.
Father, I come before You with gratitude, recognizing Your greatness and endless love. Thank You for the gift of Your son. Thank You that His holiness becomes my holiness. Because You are completely holy, You call me to be holy, too. I want to grow in holiness, Lord. Guide my thoughts, words, and actions that they may be pleasing to You. Fill me with Your Spirit so He can lead me in wisdom, truth, and sanctification. I want my life to show others how much You love them and how good and holy You are. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.