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Set Apart

As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 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.’” – 1 Peter 1:14-16

To be holy is to be set apart for a special, Godly purpose. For example, the temple was holy. It was set apart for worship and God dwelled there. The Ark of the Covenant was holy. Even priestly clothes and objects used in worship, such as utensils at the altar, were considered holy. So, a priest wouldn’t take the tongs used for placing burnt offerings on the altar and use them at home for a bar-b-cue.

We are called by God to act as His holy people, but why?

He doesn’t say, “Be holy and I’ll love you.” He says to do it because He is holy and He has made us holy. God has set you apart for Him.

Jesus has adopted us with His blood as His children. He has made us holy and righteous and then says, “Now, act like who I have made you.” We don’t make ourselves holy by our actions, rather our holy actions come from God having made us holy by His grace.

Cleansing a Holy Object:
If a temple object used by a priest were to be soiled in some way that made it ceremonially unclean, that object had to be cleansed in order to be used again. I don’t just mean the tongs fell on the ground and the priest needs to rinse off the dirt. The object had to be ceremonially cleaned. Similarly, if the priest became ceremonially unclean by touching a dead animal. He had to go through a ritual of cleansing, which included him going into water set apart for this cleansing.

We are made holy by the grace of God and then called to act as that holy person we have been made. Sin would make us unclean, but God cleanses us through the waters of baptism, through confession and forgiveness. The God who made you holy continues to cleanse you and make you holy and then says to act like the holy person you are.

How do you usually think of holiness?

Most people think of holiness as something they do. They make themselves holy by doing godly things or they make themselves less holy by sinning. This is backwards, though. God makes us holy, those godly things we do are a result of God making us holy, not what makes us holy.

Does this change holy you think about holiness?

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for calling me and making me holy. Thank You for cleansing me of my sin. Help me to live like the holy person You have made me.

Amen

In Christ’s Service,

Pastor Kurt

The Other Six

How To Use These Posts

The Other Six is a short, daily devotional blog post. You can use these posts for personal devotions, however, I’m also going to write them in such a way that you could use them for family devotions. I’ll include a Bible verse, questions and/or discussion points, and a closing prayer. I highly encourage you to do these devotions with your family or friends if possible.

Enjoy!