03/24/2026
How do you view holiness? Are you a humble and holy person? Are you humble simply because you say you are, or is it because others see this in you and say “this person is humble, and holy indeed”? If you think you have achieved a certain degree of humility and holiness before God do you use it to separate yourself from those who you believe are not? In Isaiah 65 we hear God speaking of such actions and He calls them rebellious.
“I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts;
Which say, Stand by thyself, come not near to me; for I am holier than thou. These are a smoke in my nose, a fire that burneth all the day..”
Isaiah 65:2, 5 KJV
We can enter into the midst of most any gathering of Christians and sense the presence of some who will put off an aura of what the English Standard Version of Isaiah 65:5 refers to as “too holy for you”, and the King James Version translates as saying, “holier than thou.” Do you know what I am talking about? Have you felt it before? These are rebellious people before God... so guard against becoming one of them. Jesus warns us about our perception of ourselves. He did it in Matthew, and then again in Luke. Let’s read these two accounts, and pay particularly close attention to the five uses of the word “I” as the Pharisee speaks in Luke.
“Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?”
Matthew 7:3 ESV
“"Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.' But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner!'”
Luke 18:10-13 ESV
The indicator needle in the gauge of holiness is called humility, and our gauge is not intended to show how much we have, or how much better we are than others, but rather, to show them something about who they can become. Our humility should not be an act that causes us to push ourselves away from others, or them away from us, but something that draws us closer together. Not associating with publicans and sinners because we feel that we are holier than they are, and that they might taint us in some way, is not humility at all... it is judgement. I read a wonderful warning regarding this that was written long ago by Pastor Andrew Murray that I would like to share with you... listen…
“Beware, lest we make a profession of holiness, delighting in beautiful thoughts and feelings, in solemn acts of consecration and faith, while the mark of the presence of God - the disappearance of self - is obviously missing. Flee to Jesus and hide yourselves in Him until you are clothed with His humility. That alone is holiness.” - Andrew Murray
When we look at ourselves to determine whether we are truly holy, then the first thing we should see is the humility of Jesus Christ. We can do all the things of religion, we can serve people and say it is in the name of Jesus, but if it is not done in the humility of Christ then we have missed the mark, and our gauge is showing empty. We are devoid of holiness.
The Hebrew word for holy means to be set apart... not set apart “from”, but set apart “for.” If you are holy you are set apart for the sacred use of God. If you want to understand what that looks like then you need look no further than Jesus Christ. In Jesus we see a humility that allows Him to dine with sinners, and to ultimately submit Himself to a horrible crucifixion. Is that who you see in the mirror? Is that who others see when they look at you?
Jesus never once said that He was Holy... He just showed us and fulfilled the Old Testament prophesy of holiness in humility, and He did that by living a life which brought others to call Him Holy.
“But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.”
1 Peter 1:15-16 KJV
What do we see when we look at ourselves today? What do others see in comparison?
Prayer:
Father, I thank you for your Holy Son Jesus Christ who served as a living representation of the holiness we should all seek to demonstrate in our lives. I thank you for humility Father; not the self-serving semblance of it that makes someone feel better than others, but the humility that Jesus portrayed when He sat down with sinners and prostitutes while leading them to change their lives, and bringing them to that place where they would one day soon be washed pure by His blood. Help me Father to overcome the pride that I am tempted with as I strive to serve you. Help me to be humble Lord in all I do for you and your kingdom. Let all glory be yours, and all praise be directed to you, for I can do nothing without your hand upon me. Show me Father how Jesus could heal the sick and remain humble in so doing. Show me how Jesus could turn water into wine and remain humble as He did so. Show me how Jesus could be the King of the Jews, and yet humble Himself upon the cross, and show me how I too can be considered Holy in your eyes, just as Jesus was.
Father, as Easter approaches, and Good Friday is soon to come, show me now the humility that you would have me demonstrate... allow me to exude the holiness that only comes from you and that I see reflected in your Son Jesus. Let me feel even a small touch of the humility that flowed from Him on the cross. Holy, Holy, Holy are you my God and hear me as I call out... “Help me now Lord Jesus, my Savior.” Hear me as I say Amen and Yae to becoming humble and seeking the selfsame holiness that He exudes.
And let us all say… Yea, and Amen! Amen! Amen!
Rich Forbes