“Her priests have violated my law and have profaned mine holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they shewed difference between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes from my sabbaths, and I am profaned among them.” (Ezekiel 22:26)
One of the most striking moments in the ministry of Christ was when He entered the temple and, in holy zeal, overturned the tables of the moneychangers. With whip in hand, He drove out those who were desecrating His Father’s house, declaring, “It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves,” (Matthew 21:13). His righteous indignation left no doubt—God’s holiness must not be profaned.
The temple was established as a sacred place for God’s people to worship Him and hear His Word. But corruption crept in, led by the very ones who were supposed to uphold its sanctity. The religious leaders had defiled God’s house for their own gain. If this happened to Israel under their priests, how can we be blind to the possibility that the same may be happening in the church today? Further, the apostles warned of such dangers: “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you,” (2 Peter 2:1).
This warning should give us great pause. God has ordained the gathering of believers as one of the chief means by which His people grow in holiness. Christ promises that where two or three are gathered in His name, He is there among them (Matthew 18:20). Yet, He will not be found where His holiness is trampled underfoot. He does not dwell where His truth is replaced with error or where His people are not set apart for Him.
But God’s concern for holiness extends beyond the assembly. Every believer is called to personal holiness because each one is a temple of the Holy Spirit. Paul reminds us, “Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?” (1 Corinthians 6:19). The call to “be holy, for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:16) is not just for pastors or leaders, but for every follower of Christ.
God commands His people to be separate from the world: “…come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,” (2 Corinthians 6:17). So the pursuit of holiness is not optional for the believer—it is essential. “Follow …holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord,” (Hebrews 12:14).
At the same time we are to remember that holiness is not legalism; it is love for God expressed through obedience. Do you revere God’s presence in your life by pursuing holiness? Do you cherish His Word and live by it, making a clear distinction between what is holy and what is profane? “Orthodoxy, or a right opinion in the matters of truth, is as much to be studied as holiness of life.”[1]
“How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers! But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night.” (Psalm 1:1-2)
Contemplations
- Pursuing Holiness with Zeal. Help me, Lord, to run from sin and chase after holiness! A hunter pursues his game with all his strength. Teach me to pursue holiness with the same intensity, never relenting, never wavering, knowing that my life depends on it. Let me not grow weary in the pursuit of godliness but be steadfast in my desire to be conformed to Your image.
- The Battle for Holiness. Burn this in my soul, Lord: if I am not fighting for holiness in my life, I am, by default, fighting against You. If I am passive in the battle against sin, I am aligning myself with unrighteousness. Let me never be complacent or indifferent toward holiness. Fill me with a holy zeal to separate myself from all that offends You and to walk in obedience.
- Striving to Enter the Narrow Gate. Heaven has a narrow gate that cannot be entered with ease. You tell me, Lord, that men must “press into it” (Luke 16:16) and take it by force, exerting great strength to enter (Matthew 11:12). Do I labor in my pursuit of holiness, or am I content to drift? Help me, Lord, to wrestle with my flesh, to discipline my soul, and to fight the good fight of faith with all my might.
- Using the Means of Grace. Lord, You require me to strive for holiness, but You have not left me without help. By Your Spirit, You have given me the means of grace—prayer, Scripture, worship, and fellowship—to aid me in this pursuit. Am I diligent in using them? Do I immerse myself in Your Word, seek You in prayer, and guard my heart from the corrupting influences of the world? Strengthen my resolve to labor for holiness, that I may glorify Christ and be found faithful in Your sight.
- A Life That Honors Christ. Holiness is the mark of those who belong to You, Lord. If I am truly Yours, then my life must reflect Your righteousness. Am I living in such a way that honors Christ? Do my speech, my conduct, and my affections bear witness to my love for You? Let my life be a testimony of holiness, not for my own glory, but for Yours alone.
Prayer
[Confession for My Failure to Honor Your Holiness]
Righteous and Holy Father, You are pure, undefiled, and set apart from all iniquity. You dwell in unapproachable light, and no impurity can stand before You. Your holiness is absolute, Your righteousness unblemished, and Your justice unwavering. Yet, in mercy, You have called me to be holy as You are holy—to walk in the light as You are in the light.
But I confess, Father, that I have treated Your holiness lightly. I have tolerated sin in my life, excused what should have been cast away, and grown dull to the weight of Your commands. I have allowed my heart to be distracted, my affections to be divided, and my zeal to be dimmed. I too often blur the line between what is sacred and what is profane, failing to take seriously what You called me to be. Instead of hating sin as You do, I have been slow to put it to death. Instead of fleeing temptation, I often linger where I should not.
Lord, forgive me for my half-hearted pursuit of righteousness. You have given me every means of grace, every exhortation in Your Word, every warning from Your Spirit, and yet I have allowed lesser things to crowd out my devotion. I have not sought You with my whole heart; I have been content with outward obedience when You desire truth in the inward parts. My lips speak of holiness, yet my heart is often slow to embrace it fully.
O Lord, have mercy on me! Cleanse me from every stain and renew a right spirit within me. Let me not be found among those who take lightly what is sacred. Let me not drift in complacency, nor make peace with what offends You. Restore to me a heart that trembles at Your Word, a heart that delights in righteousness and grieves over sin. Let me not be content with surface-level purity, but let holiness take deep root in my soul.
I know, Father, that the pursuit of holiness is costly. It requires discipline, sacrifice, and perseverance. But I also know that without holiness, I will not see You. I do not want to be found among those who were indifferent to Your call. I do not want to stand before You ashamed of a life wasted on lesser things. Give me, Lord, a hatred for sin, a love for righteousness, and a heart wholly devoted to Your glory.
Take away my love for what is unclean. Strip me of anything that dulls my hunger for You. Let me walk in the way of righteousness, that I may bring honor to Your name. And on that final day, let me stand before You, clothed in the holiness of Christ, not in my own righteousness, but in His. Let me hear the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
I plead this, not because I am worthy, but because Christ is my righteousness, my atonement, and my salvation. In His name, I pray. Amen.
Further References for Ezekiel 22:26
Ezekiel 22:8; Zephaniah 3:4; Jeremiah 2:8; Ezekiel 44:23; 1 Samuel 2:12; Jeremiah 5:31.
[1] James Fergusson, A Brief Refutation of the Errors Toleration, Erastianism, Independency and Separation Delivered in Some Sermons from I Job. 4. (Edinburgh: George Mosman and are to be sold at his shop .., 1692).
