Words We'll Sing Forever: A 4-Day Devotional નમૂનો

I used to play soccer as a kid, and I remember showing up to practice one day and seeing some of the older kids play. There was one kid in particular who was so good at soccer; he could run circles around all the other players, score goals so easily, and keep the ball away from everyone else. I would stand and stare at him in awe and admiration as he would play. I wanted to be like him. But I knew I would never be on that level. To my little brain, he was totally set apart.

Set apart. We all have people or places or things that are set apart in our lives; for good or for bad. The Hebrew word for set apart is kadosh, or as it’s translated into English: “Holy.”

But to the Hebrews, it meant more than just set apart. It meant sacred. Distinct. Special. It conveys the idea of being entirely other and separate from the ordinary.

Which is why it was their favorite word to use to describe Yahweh.

To them, God was the very definition of Holy. He is entirely set apart: on a level of His own. He is separate from sin, separate from impurity, separate from even our judgements about Him.

Holiness is the only attribute of God repeated three times in Scripture for emphasis: "Holy, holy, holy" (Isaiah 6:3; Revelation 4:8). This repetition underlines the absolute and infinite nature of God's holiness.

God is deserving of worship first and foremost because He is holy. He is set apart, and so utterly sacred and distinct from us in infinite ways that we can’t even comprehend. His whole self demands worship, just because of who He is.

But it’s even better. The Gospel is about God’s love, yes but it’s also significantly about His holiness.

Because He is Holy and set apart, and because we sinned (aka separated ourselves from Him), we could be near to Him. But because of Jesus, everything changed. Jesus Is the Embodiment of Holiness

In the New Testament, Jesus is referred to as the "Holy One of God"(Mark 1:24; Acts 3:14). He perfectly embodies God’s holiness in His life and ministry. And then by His death He sanctifies believers, making them holy before God (Hebrews 10:10).

God's entire redemptive plan was all about restoring humanity to holiness, bringing people back into fellowship with Him: (Ephesians 1:4).

Now, we’re called “saint,” which means “holy ones.” But it’s because of God’s holiness that we are Holy.

So why do we sing “Holy”? Well, it’s because it’s who He is. And the more we sing it, the more the truth of it enlightens our hearts to its reality. We begin to see God even more as Holy.

But we also sing “Holy” because it’s a reminder of who we are because of Him. We join in His holiness. We are set apart as a holy people because He is the holiest One.

We join in with all of Heaven singing “Holy, Holy, Holy!”

Reflection Questions:

1. What does it mean to you that God is “set apart.” How have you perhaps treated God too casually or like a buddy instead of one who is sacred and distinct?
2. What does it mean to you that God sent His Son to make us holy as well? Do you live set apart from the rest of the world? How and how not?
3. How can your life look different because of God’s holiness and your own? How can you better worship God and live out holiness?