You Are Holy

“Hallowed be Your name” – The Lord’s prayer (Matthew 6:10)

God is holy. There is none like Him. In this petition of the Lord’s Prayer, we are certainly testifying to the holiness of God, but we are doing more than, too. We are asking God’s name to be kept holy among us.

The Small Catechism puts it like this:

“God’s name is certainly holy in itself, but we pray in this petition that it may be kept holy among us also. How is God’s name kept holy? God’s name is kept holy when the Word of God is taught in its truth and purity, and we, as the children of God, also lead holy lives according to it. Help us to do this, dear Father in heaven!”

We are asking God to ensure that we hear His Word rightly, understand it, and live according to it in holiness. Also, we are asking Him to protect us from those who would teach His Word falsely and thus lead us astray.

The history of the church is littered with examples of people falsely teaching what we must do to be holy. We love to come up with things we can do to impress God and honor Him. Unfortunately, what we come up with is often not in the Bible and not what God truly wants.

God has revealed in His Word what should do. It is dangerous for us to step outside His Word and make up our own “holy acts.”

Does This Mean I Need to be Sinless?

It is certainly God’s desire that we not sin and should be ours as well. However, we are sinful beings and we will sin. God is not surprised by this. Chief among what we are called to do as His holy people is to repent of our sins and receive His gift of forgiveness in faith.

We are not made holy by our ability to act righteously or avoid sin. We are made Holy by God through Jesus Christ. He has made us, all His people, a “holy nation.” (2 Peter 2:9)

As God’s holy nation, it is our desire to live according to His holy ways. This is our response. We can’t do this of our own ability or strength or, even, desire. So, we pray that God would help us to live as the holy people He has made us.

Heavenly Father,

You are holy and You have made me holy. Help me to proclaim Your holiness to the world around me. Help me to live according to Your holy ways that others may declare Your glory.

Amen.

In Christ’s Service,

Pastor Kurt

You Are Holy

Faith Lutheran Church in Wesley Chapel, FL serving Lutz, Zephyrhills, Land O’ Lakes, and New Tampa, FL