Holiness Takes Time

The familiar hymn says, “Take Time to Be Holy.” A command requires the choice to obey, which means doing something; and that takes time. So in the song, we sing about something we do deliberately.

“Holy” means set aside for a special use. Even the vessels of the Jewish temple were holy; they were not used for anything else. But that holiness was something decided by others. Furthermore, we agree that, strictly speaking, we are holy because God considers us holy. There remains, however, a holiness that comes from us, from doing what it takes to become holy—like God, who is holy. (Leviticus 11:44, 45; 19:2; 20:7, etc.; 1 Peter 1:16.)

That leaves the time it takes to be holy. Holiness moves along in our everyday associations, in how we conduct business, in fulfilling our responsibilities. Some time may be involved just figuring out how to express that holiness every day. But taking time to be holy speaks especially to activities outside of normal routines. Coming together in worship is just such a special effort at holiness, including the observance of these emblems of our Lord’s holiness.

In setting aside time to remember him together, we show our desire to be like him to a degree like his.

Hymn: “Take Time to Be Holy” by William D. Longstaff