O Holy Night

Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.

Hebrews 12:14

What does it mean to be holy? It means to be set apart for God’s purposes. Without being holy, we can’t see the Lord one day. Holiness is more than what we wear or don’t wear—it’s much bigger than that. Our holiness before God is our complete surrender and sanctification to His plan for our lives. How can we learn to be H.O.L.Y.?

H – Hear the word of the LORD, you who tremble at his word. (Isaiah 66:5)
Holiness can’t be achieved separate from God’s word. As we read and meditate on the scriptures we become more acquainted with His ways and we are drawn to His holiness. As believers, we have the Holy Spirit who awakens our hearts with the knowledge of the Bible.

O – Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! (Psalm 34:8)
We can taste and see that God is good when we spend time with Him in prayer. Our quiet times with the Lord are precious and ushers in His presence when our hearts are open to commune with Him.

L – Lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely (Hebrews 12:1)
Many times we can miss the holiness of God because we are holding on to people or things that weigh us down spiritually. Yet, we were reborn to be free from every hindrance so that God can be glorified in the things we do. It’s our choice to lay down those heavy weights and know God more closely.

Y – My soul yearns for you in the night; my spirit within me earnestly seeks you. (Isaiah 26:9)
Sometimes we need to pause in our busy lives and examine our hearts to know if we are yearning for the Lord. As seekers of Jesus Christ, we know that there is always more room for us to know Him better. Yearning for God reveals His holiness that is apparent in our words and actions.