Generations have attempted to define the holiness of God. Some say He is morally perfect. Others use terms like ‘set apart’ or He is utterly all that we are not, or completely without evil, or totally full of all that is good.
As humans, these concepts of God are difficult to grasp. Those to whom He reveals Himself know that God is holy yet how can sinful minds comprehend holy? Even those redeemed and declared holy in Christ and because of Christ struggle to describe what we know to be true.
Jesus said, “Pray then like this: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name . . . .’ ” (Matthew 6:9) and we pray it without any notions or connections to Halloween, computer games, ivy-covered walls of hallowed buildings, or any so-called holy traditions. God is a Being unlike all that we know, and we know He is and know that to hallow His name, we must set Him apart from all that is common, even all we consider ‘good’ and give Him the highest place, the honor and the awe that He deserves — because of who He is.
Not everyone does this. Scripture tells how some refuse to recognize what God shows about Himself in creation:
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. (Romans 1:18–23)
But lest I look down my nose at such foolishness, isn’t it just as foolish to treat God as ‘my buddy in the sky’ or a genie in a bottle, without reverence or honoring Him?
Scripture attributes holiness to persons or things consecrated to God’s service, such as the Sabbath day, the Israelite priests, and even believers in Christ because we belong to God, but those designations do not mean being like God, only that these are set apart for God.
God is holy, set apart from His creation, but also because He is pure and sinless in His character. Consider the reaction of Isaiah when he encountered angels who called out:
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!” And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!” (Isaiah 6:3–5)
In the NT, being in the presence of an angel from God put people on their face. Seeing holiness is too much for us. Could this be why God came as He did?
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)
And the response? His holiness, His ‘otherness’ was too much for them; they killed Him.
As for those who ‘got it’, “He gave the right to become children of God” and the understanding that He is our Father and He is holy — even though we cannot fully define it, we know it is true.
My Father, You deserve awe, respect and glory. You are the sovereign, majestic One, and even though You are merciful and gracious to me, and “Jesus is not ashamed to be called my brother” I cannot treat you like a ‘buddy’ or address you flippantly as if You are like me. Not can I live according to the desires of my sinful flesh. Your holiness is glorified when Your righteousness is seen in Your obedient and humble children. Grant me the grace to hallow Your name today in all that I do.
READ: Joshua 7:19; Psalm 50:23; John 15:8; Romans 15:5–6; 1 Corinthians 6:20; Philippians 2:9–11; and 2 Thessalonians 3:1. Make a list of specific ways to glorify God. Are some more challenging than others?
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