Hannah’s prayer in the book of 1 Samuel talks about how our God is a holy God, and there are none like Him. In fact, throughout the Bible, there are numerous mentions of God’s holiness. All of that said, there is one particular verse from Leviticus 11 that we are taking a closer look at today.
I am the Lord your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy.
What is holiness?
God’s holiness is not just something we observe and worship from a far, but in our relationship with Him, God calls us to also consecrate ourselves and be holy. So, what exactly is holiness? What does it mean to be holy?
Holiness can be simplified as “being set apart”. Being set apart for God, being set apart from sin. While God is supremely holy, we on the other hand can only be holy through Him. The sacrifice of Jesus on the cross ensures us a chance to truly live a holy life.
A time to be set apart
Last March in Rosemead, California, there was a simple but meaningful gathering focusing on this very notion of holiness. Hope Los Angeles held a retreat for two and a half days, focusing on how God has set us apart for Himself and all of His good works in our lives. During the retreat, the members spent time in worship, prayer, and listening to God’s word.
Ps Simon and Lai Eng were invited as guest speakers to join this retreat with 30 other adults and 7 children. Throughout the days, many were touched deeply. Some were encouraged, some were strengthened, and others were reminded of God’s love and calling in their lives. After receiving prayer, the room was filled with stories of how they felt renewed and were filled with hope. There was a strong sense of expectation as people looked forward to what God would continue to do. In fact, the draw of God’s family gathering was so strong that a few guests who were not registered joined the retreat! It was encouraging to see new faces come and be a part of what God is doing.
One of the highlights for this retreat was the water baptism. 3 members made the decision to publicly declare their faith and identify themselves as God’s children. It was a joyful and powerful moment for everyone who witnessed it. Many received prayer and prophetic works throughout this retreat. For Hope LA, this is not just about the activities, but about having an encounter with God!
Living holy
Overall, the retreat may have been simple, but it was full of God’s presence. Everyone who was a part of it left with the belief that God is going to continue His work in the hearts of those who attended. There was an air of thankfulness for what He has started, and an excitement to see how He will lead them forward.
This retreat by Hope LA marks the experience that we all should try to have in our churches. We have a responsibility to be set apart, to be holy in our lives. For when we continue to live our lives being set apart by God, we will experience more of Him in our lives and our churches. It’s time to be holy for Him!
