HOLY

HOLY (qadowsh)

Set apart; sacred; sanctified

Psalm 89:18-For the LORD is our defence;
and the Holy One of Israel is our King.

The Lord is holy. This word can be observed numerous times in the word of God. He is a holy God. He is sacred and set apart. God is perfect, holy and there is no one like Him. No one can fathom His holiness. When I think about the word holy, I think about something so valuable and precious that it’s placed somewhere special. You value it so much, that you do not want to let just anyone touch it. You honor it. This valuable item is worth so much that you don’t take it for granted, because you know its worth.

A few years ago, I was cleaning around the house and I lost the diamond out of my ring. I was distraught because I knew the value of it. This gem had a story and it was precious to me. My diamond symbolized the love between my husband and I. I looked all over for it. I cannot even tell you how much time I spent looking and trying to think of when I saw it last. But then all of a sudden, I just gave it to the Lord. I decided I wasn’t going to worry about it anymore. The Lord reminded me that it was just a treasure here on earth. No one can take the treasure that I have in heaven! Three weeks later, I was cleaning the bathroom and lifted up a basket off of the floor and I saw something shiny. I found my diamond! Words cannot even express the joy I felt! How much more should we treasure the Holy One who loves us enough to give Himself for us?

We must have a reverent fear (awe) of God because He is a holy God. In this day and age, there is a lack of respect for anything or anyone. When we fail to treasure and value holiness, we lose out on a deeper relationship with Him. We need to step into a new level of understanding that we serve a holy God. When you have a love relationship with the Father, you rejoice in His holiness. You rejoice because He is that treasure that you have been looking for your entire life.

In the Old Testament, there were holy (sacred) items in the temple that were used for giving the Lord a sacrificial offering. Only the priest could offer up the sacrifice on behalf of the people. They could not come to God any kind of way. There was a process, because of His holiness, which could not be exposed to sin. When one brought a sin offering, they needed to have a lamb without blemish (free of imperfections). The sacrifice had to be perfect. Here is the awesome thing about this holy God: if a lamb was not available, a goat could be brought for the sacrifice instead. According to the book of Leviticus, if people were too poor to have a goat, they could bring two quarts of flour. Certainly, if they didn’t have any flour, they could have asked their neighbor for some. God wanted to make sure that they understood that, although He is holy, He is also a redemptive God. Right from the beginning, He wanted to make a way for His people to come to Him. Jesus had not even come yet to make the perfect sacrifice. Nevertheless, God was already making sure that His people could find redemption and restoration. Can you even fathom that love? God’s love is too great to even comprehend.

I am sure there have been times that you have not honored God or His holiness. You may have let some attitudes or sin come in. When this happens, it’s important to run to God and not from Him. Satan will convince you to run away, when all you need to do is run toward the One who can save you and set you free. His righteousness will cover you and help you to live right.

Today, ask the Lord to help you walk in His love and holiness. What are ways that you can honor His holiness? Are there things you need to stop doing that do not honor Him?

Written by a colleague friend Darla Siriano