Take Time to Be Holy!

Communion – Benevolent Offering
Good morning!

Today my message is entitled “Take Time to Be Holy!” One of you asked if we could sing Hymn #155 which has this same title. I looked at the words and realized that many of us sing songs but do not always read and heed the words. Today, I want to look at the words of this Hymn and God’s Word to better understand how and why we need to “Take Time to Be Holy!”

Paul, in his letter to the Thessalonians gives us this direction on being “holy.”

1 Thessalonians 4: 7 NIV
For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.

Before we look at the Hymn, we should understand the basic premise of “being holy.”

Webster’s New World Dictionary; Spiritually pure; sinless. Deserving reverence or adoration

The Lion Encyclopedia of the Bible gives us these thoughts on Holiness.
“The basic idea of holiness is ‘separate (set apart) for God. In the Old Testament, places, things, people and seasons were called holy when they were set apart for God.”….
“The people of God have always been expected to reflect the holiness which they see in God. God wants His people to share His holiness. So in the New Testament the common word for Christians is ‘saints’.”…
“It meant ‘the holy ones’, those who are set apart and dedicated to God’s service. And ‘saints’ are meant to grow in holiness and likeness to God.”

1 Corinthians 7: 1 NIV Apostle Paul writing to the church in Corinth.
Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.

1 Peter 1: 15-16 NIV
15 But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do.
16 for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”

Now we know what being holy is and how Christianity teaches us to live a holy life, let’s look at Hymn 155 “Take Time to Be Holy.” (William D. Longstaff and George C. Stebbins) New Church Hymnal.

Take time to be holy; Speak oft with thy Lord;
Abide in Him always, And feed on His Word.
Make friends with God’s children; Help those who are weak,
Forgetting in nothing His blessings seek.

Take time to be holy; The world rushes on;
Spend much time in secret With Jesus alone.
By looking to Jesus, Like Him thou shalt be;
Thy friends in thy conduct His likeness shall see.

Take time to be holy; Let Him be thy guide;
And run not before Him, Whatever betide.
In joy or in sorrow, Still follow thy Lord
And, looking to Jesus, still trust in His Word.

Now we can look at other Scriptures that discuss Holy living.

1 Timothy 2: 8 NIV
I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing.

Matt 7: 24 NIV
Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.

Luke 1: 74-75 NIV Part of Zachariah’s song:
74 To rescue us from the hand of our enemies, and to enable us to serve Him (God) without fear
75 in holiness and righteousness before Him all our days.

Ephesians 4: 23-24 NIV
23 To be made new in the attitude of your minds;
24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

Eph 5: 8-9 NIV
8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light
9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth)

Back on Feb 05 2017, we were doing a walk through Colossians and I did a message entitled “Rules for Holy Living” looking at Col 3:1-17. I want to reread verses 15-17 to close this message.

Colossians 3: 15-17 NIV
15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.
16 Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.
17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

Let’s pray!