Mar 4

1 Peter 2:9
Memorise 1 Chronicles 16:29
“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people”

1 Peter 2:9 describes believers in this age as “a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people”. This shows that the local church is now the visible witness for Christ in this world, taking over the role from Israel who was supposed to be this witness in the OT, but failed the Lord. Holiness is separation from the world, and being set apart for God. There were several commandments given to Israel that did not seem morally wrong, such as forbidding them to eat certain foods according to the dietary laws in Leviticus 11. The reason given by the Lord is simply that “I am the LORD your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy” (Leviticus 11:44). As the heathen nations around Israel all ate such foods, God forbade Israel from doing so, in order that could see that Israel was holy and set apart for the LORD. Similarly, we the local church must be the visible witness for Christ today, and we must be holy in our witness.

1 Chronicles 16:29 clearly shows the connection between holiness and worship: “Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come before him: worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.” What we do in worship must clearly show we are an holy nation, not a worldly one. All elements of worship must be holy. Like the OT priests, the worship leaders and musicians must ensure that everything in worship points to the holiness of God, and glorifies Him alone. The focus of worship must never be on man, but worship must cause man to focus on God.

On the other hand, it is very difficult to maintain holiness while worshipping with a rock band! How can Christians testify being set apart for God when they dance with wild sensuality in the church aisles? How does worship glorify God when each praise item ends with rapturous applause for a great performance by the vocalists and musicians! How can man focus on God when the church sanctuary is full of statues of dead saints? It is not enough to separate the church from the world, but we must ensure the church must be set apart for God, and this includes how we worship.

Thought: Someone said, the practice of Christianity is “to be what you are”. Do you agree? Do you understand?
Prayer: Lord, teach me to be holy, for I am Your child, and I want to be more and more like my Holy God each day.