Since April, the Holy Spirit has taken me on a journey. One could safely assume the Holy Spirit would lead a church planter to study pastoral care, leadership, or something of that nature while preparing to lead their own church. Instead, I felt a tug to study holiness and now I can’t get away from it. I am more aware of this attribute of God called: holiness.

When I reviewed Isaiah’s account (ref. Isaiah 6) of seeing God on a throne and the seraphim are singing “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty, the whole earth is filled with his glory,” I remember, God is holy and I am human. I have discovered a security in his holiness that life can’t shake.

God is holy and I am human. The “I am human” part is a fact that we tend to dilute. But the more I reflect the more I am relieved. The pressure is off! I have freedom because He is God and I am not. He is Creator I was created. He is Holy and I am human. So, how can others find this security and freedom while being a human? Let’s start with the basics, here is what you could ask the Holy Spirit to unpack with you:

1. Holy means set apart.

God is set apart from us, and all of creation. Not separated in distance but in difference.* He is different from us. Isaiah quoted the Lord best in chapter 55 verses eight and nine,  “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

This is where I recognize why Isaiah’s response was the way that it was. God is set apart. We are used to people and circumstances failing us. We all can expect “life” to happen to the best of us.

However, God’s holiness sets him apart from everything we know. It’s what helps us identify him as faithful. God doesn’t lie because he’s holy. God doesn’t change because he is holy. When He says he is for us we will find him trustworthy. His holiness is the reason we can trust him. There is none like him.

2. He is holy.

God goes before you and I, and He is working things out on our behalf, not so that we are successful here on earth, but so that we are continually drawn closer in relationship to him…so that His work is done in our lives…so that we become holy as He is holy.

Studying holiness makes you aware of how unholy you are. I mean, it has made me more aware of how unholy I am. Let me clarify, I don’t just sit wallowing in my sin, I repent of it, but also I recognize my human limitations. I can’t stop time, I can’t rush to the end of things, and so on. Here, I have never felt more okay as a human than ever before. I have found relief in my inabilities. I have been able to rest in my Creator’s hands believing more firmly than ever that He is in control. Why?

Because while there are great strategies and mentors out there for church planting and all, and I thank God for them!, nothing and none of them compare to the ways and thoughts of God. Using this defining characteristic, it’s very clear to see when something is of God and when something is because of our good hard work because it’s set apart.

3. His holiness - it’s all we’ve got.

As Believers we have the opportunity to “take up our cross, to follow Him, and to lose our lives” and doing so creates transition. When we “follow Him” we transition from our safe uncomfortable life to a risky yet fully content life. That transition makes God’s holiness your crutch. In my experience thus far, when you take a step of faith, you’ve got nothing else to lean on except that God is for you and you need Him to come through for you.

4. Jesus’ life was set apart.

So naturally, it’s the Christmas season and all I think about is Jesus and how his life revealed God’s power in ways that people weren't used to:

-Humanity needed a savior, God sent a baby. Holy.

-The Jews wanted a revolution, instead, they were offered redemption. Holy.

-While religious and political leaders brought oppression, Jesus brought freedom. Holy.

Jesus was set apart for a purpose. While the miracles were amazing, people were frustrated at Jesus, not only because of the freedom He brought but also because why he set people free. A holy purpose.

4. He makes us holy for a purpose too!

To be honest, I get frustrated at God’s holiness too. I get upset when I can’t make things happen. It’s frustrating to have responsibilities on your lap with dynamics out of your control. If I want a miracle I’ll pray and wait to see how God leads. I can't just make it happen. It’s frustrating that I have to wait. It’s frustrating to be human. Still, I notice in those times, my surrender to the process is another kind of miracle. My growing and trusting that God will work things out is holiness at work in my life.

5. What is evidence of holiness in our human life?

Surrender (obedience) is evidence of a Holy God who is active in our lives.

How? Because we start living “set apart.” Not set apart from people relationally, not geographically, but spiritually. From the inside out there is a purpose that shifts everything from this day forward, and this purpose is revealed more and more as we grow in surrender.

The truth is only God can help us grow in surrender. Thankfully we can rely on Him for this as well. Therefore, only God can get the glory from our growth.

In the Bible it is written, “Be holy for I am holy.” God is literally the only one who can make someone else like themselves. Submitting to the growth process is experiencing that holiness develop in us. Not only is God glorified as we grow, but we also become more like him… and because there is no one else like you, He is doing a new thing. (Is. 43:19; 2 Cor. 5:17) This is something no one else can do. Trust me, I’m a wife, a parent, and a pastor. I know a thing or two about wanting to help someone do better. Still, we are all limited. We can’t make people do or be anything. But God is different. He can do a new thing when we surrender.

Surrendering the outcome of a thing takes off so much pressure. Anxiety, depression, stress, worry, doubt, and so on, are removed because we know who we are and who is in control.

6. So where do we go from here?

I believe God is calling His people to live holy lives and for all of us this could look different but the results (God receiving the glory) should be the same.

In a nutshell, holiness in our lives could look like:

-We work with a different kind of work ethic.

-We reach out when our neighbor wants to hide.

-We live debt-free so we can be generous.

-Our dating, parenting, marriages, and careers are all for a different purpose.

-We stay submitted when the world says to choose ourselves.

-We are honest when it’s no big deal to lie.

-We connect when the world wants to cancel.

-We smile softly while the world screams.

-We stay faithful when they are wrong and we are right.

-We sabbath when everyone hustles… and so on.

So friend, can we make this personal?

First, what is God asking you to do that requires surrender? That could possibly be your next holy assignment to grow in and see God glorified. Radical holiness can simply mean radical obedience.

Second, how is God moving in your life in a way that you didn’t expect or even ask for? Where do you see the holiness of God in your life?

For me, I’m glad the Holy Spirit has taken me on this journey. He’s focusing my thoughts as we start this new chapter. This is His church and everything that happens is because of him. He’s telling me, “Steph, let’s do this My way. Let everything that Heart Church is, be because of Me, and I’ll make Heart Church everything it’s supposed to be. Holy.”

So here I am, a church planter studying holiness among other things, watching God be holy, and reading these words differently as we enter the Christmas week:

“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered.

“May your word to me be fulfilled.”

Luke 2:38

*Source: Holier Than Thou by Jackie Hill Perry. (Grab this book! When we understand God’s holiness our trust in Him grows.)