Teach Us to PrayNäide

HE IS HOLY

The dictionary defines hallowed as "holy, sacred". The seraphim in Isaiah 6 called out, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty." They affirmed God's character. To repeat something indicates its importance. To repeat something three times must indicate that it is very important. We know God is loving, but nowhere in the Bible does it say he is loving, loving, loving. In Revelation 4, this description "holy, holy, holy" is reiterated a second time. The Apostle Peter tells us, "You must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. For the Scriptures say, 'You must be holy because I am holy.'" Like Father, like son. Because we are his children, our character reflects on His holy name. But how can I be holy, holy, holy?

I had a seminary professor who encouraged our class NOT to try to live a holy life. "What! You're kidding, right?" I thought. Instead, he said, we should seek to live a holy minute… and then another… and another. That made sense...to begin with, a small step. Maybe I could do that. Then, that step could become a holy walk, and that walk, a holy lifestyle.

I have found that fasting builds spiritual muscle, and holiness takes work. Paul said, "Let us work toward complete holiness because we fear God." (2 Corinthians 7:1 NLT). We don't work for salvation, but it takes a lot of work to stay truly clean and holy. By becoming holy as His children, we can honor His hallowed name.

- Ralph Rittenhouse