so what does it mean?

i was questioned once what the word 'holy' meant.

*crickets chirp*

i realized that i would usually gloss over it in the Bible and i never paid attention to what it really meant. so before i go any further, i'm going to give you it's meaning, as defined by dictionary.com.

1. specially recognized as or declared sacred by religious use or authority; consecrated: holy ground.
2. dedicated or devoted to the service of God, the church, or religion: a holy man.
3. saintly; godly; pious; devout: a holy life.
4. having a spiritually pure quality: a holy love.
5. entitled to worship or veneration as or as if sacred: a holy relic.

i've also heard it defined as simply set apart.

tonight, my pastor read Psalm 96. verse 9 says this: "Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness; tremble before him, all the earth!"

when i replaced holiness with set-apartness, the verse really hit me. to worship God in His difference from us and how much grander He is than us: the Creator from the creation; the Father from the child; the Potter from the clay; I AM from iamnot. it really showed me how much bigger God is than little old me. God is always making me to see Him as bigger and bigger. and i keep getting smaller and smaller. which brings another verse to mind.

John 3:30 "He must become greater; I must become less."

this gives me great comfort. knowing that Someone sooooooooo big is watching over me and loves me--LOVES me(that still amazes me)--is such a relief. being able to trust God for everything that happens to me is such a blessing. i find peace in that the Creator of the universe and the Savior of the world protects me. i'm so thankful for the trust that God has caused to have in Him. i feel more and more blessed to be one of His chosen ones, hand-picked and set apart(made holy) by Almighty God.

praise be to God!!!