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“I am the almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.” Genesis 17:1 (KJV)

The word holiness seems to have fallen into disuse in our 21Century world. It has roots in both the Hebrew and Greek languages. When we speak of holiness, we speak of being separated from the world, set apart for God. Unger’s Bible Dictionary explains: “Holiness is a general term used to indicate sanctity or separation from all that is sinful, impure or morally imperfect; it is moral wholeness.” We can apply the word to persons, places, or things.

The Sanctuary-- In the book of Leviticus God states that He is holy. He deems the place in the temple where He meets his people as holy. The inner part of The Holy Place is called The Holy of Holies, the place where God resides. Only the priest could enter The Holy of Holies one day a year. Before a priest could enter this part of the Temple, the other priests attached a long rope to his ankle. By doing this, they would be able to drag that chosen priest from the inner sanctum in the event that God didn’t deem the chosen priest worthy enough to come into His presence.

Holy Service--When Isaiah goes to the temple (Isaiah 6), he sees God. The seraphim, celestial beings, who stand above God called to one another, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty.” (Isaiah 6:2) The primary purpose of the seraphim in this passage is to sanctify (set apart) Isaiah for the Lord’s work.

As missionaries prepare for their assignments, they are commissioned by the people who sponsor them, setting the men and women apart for Kingdom service. I have seen this type of service done for short term assignments. It is my understanding that every annual conference meeting of denominations includes a commissioning service.

Marriage-- At weddings the bride and groom pledge to forsake all others and enter into a holy estate, sometimes referred to as holy matrimony. I discovered something in my research on the marriage vows. Some Christian denominations have different wording for certain parts of the ceremony.

In our 21Century world, people seen to circumvent the idea of something as being holy in favor of being expedient. We want something and we want it now. We need to relearn the principle of waiting and relying on the Lord.

Holy times--”Where two or three are gathered, there I am in the midst of them.” (Matthew 18:20, KJV) As I worked on this article, my phone rang. A dear lady from church explained her need for prayer and asked me to keep her in my prayers. I asked her if we could pray right then. She said yes. I lifted her before the Lord. Looking back on that moment, I know God heard my petition and will answer it according to His Will for this friend. What made this time holy was His presence.

Seeking Holiness--As children of God, He tells us to commune with Him, give thanks, seek His counsel, follow His guidance, and bring our petitions to Him. Jesus Himself asked that His disciples be sanctified—made holy through the Father’s words. (John 17:17-19, KJV) The Apostle Paul tells us to, “Let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and the spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” 2 Corinthians 7:1(KJV)

Dear Lord Jesus; You are Holy. Your presence makes Your people into a holy nation. Any time we spend in your presence is sacred. Thank You for these, your deeds. Please help us to seek You and Your holiness. We will give You all the praise. In Your name and Spirit, we pray. AMEN

"Word from Scotland" from Sandy Shaw

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