We’ve been thinking about holiness. That word makes some people think about strongly scented candles, fancy cathedrals, or even a certain kind of religious snobbery. But that’s off the mark.

Holiness is about being set apart for a special, godly purpose. We need to reclaim (and be humbly confident about) that understanding. After all, if we want to be increasingly like Jesus, we need to take seriously the fact that holiness is a major attribute of God himself.

In Revelation 4:8 we are told about four creatures saying something non-stop in the presence of God in an act of worship: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.” 

They. Never. Stop. Saying. That. About. God. 

The repetition is key. Just so we don’t miss it, we are told that God is holy three times. Nowhere else in the Bible is a major attribute of God repeated three times right in a row.

Or think about the Trinity. God is Father, Son and HOLY Spirit. God chooses to put the word “holy” in his own name. That way whenever we speak about the Holy Spirit—the person, power and presence of God active and alive in the world today—we are reminded of his holiness.

When you start to believe in Jesus, who starts to dwell inside of you? The HOLY Spirit. That is why “your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God…” (1 Corinthians 6:19, ESV).

I simply ask you to ponder: How are you cooperating with God’s will for holiness in your life?

This doesn’t mean you are perfect. Far from it. If you’re like me, you make mistakes all the time. You sin. In fact, I’ve already sinned multiple times today!

But with God’s help, we are seeking to become more and more like Christ. Think progression, not perfection.

When we proactively cooperate with God in this way, our decisions, habits and pathways will honour him, be consistent with Scripture, encourage Christlikeness, and bless others.

How are you cooperating with God’s will for holiness in your life?

“Be holy,” says the Lord, “because I am holy” (1 Peter 1:16).

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Notes:

–The Up Devotional is published 5 days a week (Monday-Friday) and returns on October 2, 2023.