By Tesia Nagorka
“You are to be holy to Me because I, the Lord, am holy, and I have set you apart from the nations to be My own.” – Leviticus 20:26
There are so many opinions about the word ‘holy,’ and just as many misunderstandings of what it actually means. Some confuse holiness with a set of rules and regulations – a checklist to complete in order to gain favor from God. Others confuse holiness with judgement – a way to judge how good or bad you are compared to others. Both of these couldn’t be further from the truth.
Holiness does mean set apart, or different from the rest. But how we’re different is what makes us holy. You see, the world says you have to do things in order to gain favor, and the world constantly pushes you to compare yourself and judge others. But doing the same thing wouldn’t set you apart..
So, what is holiness?
Holiness means belonging to God and being set apart in purity. When something is holy, it is fully devoted to God. It’s not diluted by other things. We can’t become holy in our own efforts. It’s God that makes us holy through Jesus when we’re saved. Christ then gives us the power to continue walking in holiness.
How can we walk in holiness?
When you belong to the Lord, you’re called to be like Him. His ways are nothing like the ways of the world, so we need a different example to learn from. We need to be in His Word and listen to His instruction. We’re to seek His presence in our lives daily.
To be holy means to follow Him wholeheartedly, learning from Him and letting ourselves be transformed by the power of His Spirit. This takes determination and devotion. Living a life of holiness takes honesty and trust in God. Being holy isn’t about a checklist, it’s about letting God into every part of our heart. It’s about who we are, all the way through. What you do is just the outflow of what’s inside of you.
“How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word.” – Psalm 119:4
“Pay attention, my child to what I say. Listen carefully. Don’t lose sight of my words. Let them penetrate deep within your heart, for they bring life and radiant health to anyone who discovers their meaning. Above all else, guard your heart for it affects everything you do. Avoid all perverse talk; stay far from corrupt speech. Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you. Mark out a straight path for your feet; then stick to the path and stay safe. Don’t get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil.” – Proverbs 4:20-27
“Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” – Psalm 139:23-24