Here is a recap of this last week:

A – God is Almighty and in Christ you are safe.

B – God is Beautiful and in Christ you are reflectors of Him.

C – God is Creator and in Christ you are fearfully and wonderfully made.

D – God is Deliverer and in Christ you are delivered from the power of sin and death.

E – God is Eternal and in Christ you are saved.

F – God is Faithful and in Christ you are secure.

G – God is Good and in Christ you are confident.

With that, let’s focus on God’s HOLINESS.

Who is God? He is HOLY!

Author, speaker, and theologian Don Stewart summarizes God’s holiness like this: 

“Only God is HOLY. The main idea behind holiness is separation. God is separate from all sin. He is perfect in His nature. His character is one of flawless moral perfection. Holiness has a positive and negative side. On the positive side He always does what is right. On the negative side He is separate from all sin.”

When I was teaching the little ones the ABC’s of God, one of the first verses they memorized was Isaiah 46:9b which says, “I am God and there is no other, I am God and there is none like Me.”  I think this is a wonderful definition of God’s HOLINESS.  No one is like Him. He is set apart. He alone is God. Here are a few other other verses describing God’s HOLINESS.

Who among the gods is like you, O LORD? Who is like you – majestic in HOLINESS, awesome in glory, working wonders? Exodus 15:11

Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under his wings. Day and night they never stop saying: “HOLY, HOLY, HOLY is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come. Revelation 4:8

You alone are HOLY. All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous acts have been revealed. Revelation 15:4

Who are you in Him? You are called to be HOLY!

We are to look like our Savior.  We are to look different from the world. We are to reflect Him in all that we do.  We are to do all things as unto Him. God’s word describes this perfectly.

Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as He who called you is HOLY, you also be HOLY in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be HOLY, for I am HOLY.” I Peter 1:13-16

One aspect in our call to HOLINESS is taking care of what we are set our minds on.  We want to think rightly about things.  It is tempting to either think too highly of ourselves or to think too poorly of ourselves.  Both are versions of pride. Both are focused on the self as opposed to the Lord. God’s word tells us to take our thoughts captive which doesn’t mean to stop thinking; it means to start thinking about who God is and who you are in Him. If you are tempted to worry like I am, I encourage you to put to memory verses like Philippians 4:5-8 which clearly tell us what to think about. Here is what they say, 

“The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” 

So, what are the honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, worthy of praise kinds of thoughts that we should be thinking about? They are thinking about who God is and who you are in Him.  This is one precious way that you are living out that call to be HOLY as He is HOLY.

If you are believing in Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, then be HOLY as He is HOLY.  If you are not believing or or waffling in your belief, today is the day.  Submit to Him by giving your heart to Him trusting Him for your salvation.  He will gladly remove your heart of stone that wants to go its own way and will replace it with a heart of flesh that is moldable and pliable. It is He who is willing and ready to begin that good work in you. 

I will close with Isaiah 46:9-13.  These verses clearly state that God is in charge. He is the HOLY God! There is no one like Him.

“I am God, and there is no other;

    I am God, and there is none like me. 

I make known the end from the beginning,

    from ancient times, what is still to come.

I say, ‘My purpose will stand,

    and I will do all that I please.’ 

From the east I summon a bird of prey;

    from a far-off land, a man to fulfill my purpose.

What I have said, that I will bring about;

    what I have planned, that I will do.

Listen to me, you stubborn-hearted,

    you who are now far from my righteousness. 

I am bringing my righteousness near,

    it is not far away;

    and my salvation will not be delayed.”

 “Revelation Song” by Philipps, Craig, and Dean

“Holy, Holy, Holy” by Hillsong

We will focus on the fact that God is Incomprehensible tomorrow.

Blessings to you!

When you pray….Take time to praise the Lord that He is HOLY.  Pray for yourself that you would, by God’s grace, live out the call on your life to be HOLY.  Pray for your spouse and children.  Since it is the 4th Saturday of the month, pray for those that you know by name where you shop, get coffee, get your haircut, etc.