What does it mean to be holy? The meaning of holiness can often be described as “moral goodness” and the doing of right and just things. This is correct, because we know that Jesus was holy and these were the things He practiced. But “goodness” is not the only idea we should relate to being holy. In the Bible, the idea of holiness is connected to something much bigger. What it’s really describing is God’s creative force behind the whole universe, and His power to masterfully design everything with such beauty and order. All of His abilities make Him supremely unique – this is the deeper meaning of holiness. But how should we, as Christians, live as children of such a holy Father? We are called to live a righteous life, a pure life, a divine life.
1 Peter 1:15-16 reads, “But as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy’.” This verse is referencing Leviticus 11:44, where God is informing Moses and Aaron of what animals are acceptable for them and the people of Israel to eat. He is relating this practice of only eating the clean animals to that of being holy. So we see here that being obedient to God is a characteristic of being holy. We know that Old Testament practices like clean and unclean animals no longer apply to the Christians of today, but the idea behind the diet choices of the Israelites was to be righteous and pleasing to God for the purpose of following Him and living according to His will, a practice that absolutely carried over. When the Israelites showed obedience to God, they were engaging in righteousness, therefore, living a life more divine than the common sinner. So what does this mean for us now? How can we live divinely today?
The OT people did holy things to be distinct from the Gentile nations, as we see in Deuteronomy 26:19- “…in honor high above all nations that he has made…”, they were obviously set apart. But, for what purpose? We see things “set apart” all the time- uniforms, wedding rings, reserved seating signs, warning labels, VIP lines or sections – all distinct things that are apart from the ordinary. But to be holy must mean more than just being pretty on a shelf. To be holy is to take on a purpose, as Peter explains in his first letter. 1 Peter 2:9 – “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession…” In other words, set apart. “…that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” This is their purpose – to share God’s amazing nature with others. This is our purpose as well! We are called to share the Gospel with others, and when we do, we are thriving as a part of God’s holy nation.
Holiness isn’t just about being “good” or following a list of rules, it’s about living with a purpose. God has set us apart, not to remain merely distinct on a shelf, but to reflect His light in the middle of everyday life. For us, this might look like standing up for those left out, choosing honesty when cheating would be easier, or staying true to your faith even when it’s unpopular. Each of these moments is a chance to show that we belong to a holy God. Remember the words in Leviticus 11 and 1 Peter, “…’you shall be holy, for I am holy.” That’s not just a command, it’s an invitation. This week, look for one area of your life where you can choose to be set apart. Maybe in how you talk about others, what you post on social media, or the way you treat a friend. Ask yourself: does this reflect the holiness of God? When we live set apart, we’re joining in God’s bigger story – shining His light in a world that desperately needs it.
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Welcome! We are so glad you stopped by. Come Fill Your Cup is a group of Christian ladies dedicated to equipping women for study and service. We know you are busy and that life’s hectic pace pulls you in so many directions, but you can’t truly be the woman God desires unless you take time to fill your own cup…not with spa days (though we love a good spa!) or the latest novel…but with God’s Holy Word. We want to help you with that! Our goal is to reach you in the midst of your busy day and give you encouragement, education, and fellowship as you strive to live the life God has laid before you. Our prayer is that we can help fill your cup so that you, in turn, can overflow to all those around you. So, as we like to say…come fill your cup, and let it overflow!
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