1 Peter 1:15-16 (NIV)
“But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.’”
1 Peter 1:15-16
Since we are all called to be holy, let’s dig deeper into the concept of holiness.
Consider three people: Moses, Abraham, and King David. What do all of these people have in common? The answer is that all of these people are holy people. They are flawed; Moses murdered. Abraham lied, King David murdered and committed adultry. Holy people are human.
Fiction shows holy people as wearing a shawl and living on top of a mountain, isolated from common people. That is wrong. Let me tell you some of the ways you can tell a holy person.
Holy people have a spiritual devotion to their lives. They read God’s word and pray to him. They care about what God says about how things should be. They prioritize God’s will in their decisions. They show a deep commitment to their faith or spiritual beliefs. This is evident in their dedication to prayer, meditation, worship, and other spiritual practices.
They live their lives with moral integrity. They aren’t perfect, but they repent when they are wrong. The Bible calls David “a man after God’s own heart.” With all of David’s flaws, how could this be? I believe it is because David repented and turned to God. (See Psalm 51).
They have compassion and love for others. Holiness manifests in genuine love, kindness, and compassion towards others. A holy person may be known for their selfless acts and their concern for the well-being of others.
This list of attributes of holy people is not complete. Not even close, but it is a starting point.
I once asked a church-going, lover of people, whether he considered himself to be a holy man. His response was “no.”
If that is you, then get the heart of David and turn to God. You don’t have to perfect, but you have to work toward that goal. That is what holy people do.
Lonnie Davis