The NIV 365 Day Devotional

Set Apart Unto The Lord

Holiness describes the character of God and the code for Christian conduct. Scripture reveals the holiness of God and expresses God’s desire for his children to develop a similar holiness (Ex 19:6; Lev 11:44–45; 19:2; 1Pe 1:15).

The word “holiness” has several different meanings. In terms of an individual’s relationship to God, it means “set apart.” God is the “wholly other” or totally different One, unlike any other. Holiness also describes a way to live. Christians are called to live according to a different set of principles and standards than the ungodly world—to lead a pure life in accordance with God’s call, commandments and consequences. This “set apart” life of righteousness is of God and from God (1Co 1:2; 3:16–17). A holy life is a life that always chooses to do what God desires.

Obedient believers are instructed no longer to be conformed to their old desires and patterns of thinking and behaving (1Pe 1:13–16). The conforming to a life of holiness, however, requires more than the will of a person to “change.” It is the work of the Holy Spirit made possible through Christ’s death on the cross.

True holiness is exemplified only in God, though the Holy Spirit empowers his children to pursue holiness (1Th 4:7–8). The good news is that as we seek to be holy and invite the Holy Spirit to do his work in us, the Lord responds by cleansing us, leading us into his righteous and holy paths, and strengthening us to withstand the temptation to return to our former ungodly lives.

We cannot make ourselves holy, but if we desire to become holy and set our wills toward following the Lord, he will make us so. The Lord never commands us to do something that he does not enable us to do (Ro 4:21).

Taken from The NIV Woman’s Study Bible.