Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be your name, (Matthew 6:9).

Holy.

His name is holy.

I had a friend once upon a time who pursued holiness with an intensity you rarely encounter.  He told me that, each night, he would lie in bed and review the events of the day, looking for areas in which he had fallen short.  He would then take the time to pray and seek forgiveness.  The process sometimes took an hour or more. I loved my friend, but I thought he was being legalistic an over the-top.

And yet…

God told the Israelites, “I am the Lord who brought you up out of Egypt…therefore be holy, because I am holy” (Lev. 11-45).    OK, I’ve never been to North Africa, but I’ve been in my own personal Egypt, if you get my drift.  God brought me out, as surely as he parted the sea for Moses.

And in his prayer, Jesus emphasizes God’s holiness.

His name is holy.

We are called to be holy.

We are called to be like him.

Of course, I’ll never attain true holiness this side of Heaven.

But…should I not make the attempt?

Hmmm.

Something to chew on, Beloved.