Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.

Hebrews 12:14

Good morning, friend.  This morning’s Daily Light focuses on holiness.  Either this is a “ho hum” statement, never really used by normal people like us, or has great meaning for us today, as it had for the believers when Paul was writing.

The communities of believers had the concept of “holiness” in their hearts.  As I think of it, we have pretty much pushed the concept of human or divine holiness right out of the picture.  When did I last concentrate on that?  If so, and I believe it is so, then the reality of “holiness” must return to the conversation.

The writer to the Hebrew believers assumed that his readers will connect with his appeal to holiness.  These days, here in Western culture, this is not an easy concept to embrace. The word has a certain nice ring about it.  But what does it mean, if anything?

For the writer of this letter, it was central and all-important.  Listen, “Without holiness no one will see the Lord.”

Lord Jesus, help me to understand what it means to be “holy.”  I am in kindergarten on this, I must admit, as are many of my fellow believers in our culture.