What are the attributes of God? Discover and consider a few of God’s attributes through this short blog series. Today’s attribute: faithful.
Attributes of God: God is Holy
by Amanda Hickernell
Set Apart
In the dictionary, the word “holy” means “set apart”. In the Bible, the word “holy” means “set apart from sin” and encompasses moral excellence and purity. The only Holy one is God. God is the only one who is completely perfect, completely righteous, completely good and completely set apart from sin.
Completely Holy
Invited into His Presence
In the Bible, God gives His people a taste of His holiness in the form of His glory. Exodus 24:17 says “To the Israelites the glory of the Lord looked like a consuming fire on top of the mountain.” In Exodus 33:21, God says to Moses, “There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock. When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but my face must not be seen.” God is so holy that Moses had to be protected from it. God is so holy that Moses could only catch a glimpse of God’s back as He passed by
Holy Radiance
God did another thing to help us understand His holiness and His glory. Hebrews 1:3 “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being.” God gave us the Son, Jesus Christ, to be a living and tangible representation of God’s glory. When we look at Jesus, we see God. We see God’s love, God’s perfect justice, God’s unmatched power, God’s mercy and grace, God’s infinite wisdom, and God’s authority over all things. Each attribute on its own is amazing. When you put them all together – in the one person of Jesus – it is shockingly marvelous. Only God could be all of those things. Only God is holy.
As you ponder God’s holiness, what is your response? Perhaps you will stop and worship God in song. Or stop and confess a sin. Or stop and plead for wisdom and strength. As one of our worship songs says, God is “Holy. There is no one like Him. There is none beside Him. Open up my eyes in wonder.”
So, what do you think of when you hear the word Holy? How should we respond to a Holy God who invites us into His Presence? Your Hallows Church family would love to hear how God’s Holiness has impacted your life. Share those thoughts here.
__________________
Amanda Hickernell is a member of The Hallows Church West Seattle Expression. Amanda is a BSF teacher, graphic designer, wife to Jim and mother of two. She is often found leveraging her gifts and time on the Hallows Communication Team, Hallows Women’s Ministry Team, and wearing multiple hats at The Hallows West Seattle Expression.