The LORD says :"Be ye holy, even as I AM holy." 1 Peter 1:16, Lev. 11:44-45.
1 Peter 2:9, tells us that we are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation. In this scripture the word "holy" means, a most holy thing, pure from every fault, immaculate. This would conform to our understanding of the meaning of holy. Those who take this command seriously, sometimes struggle all of their lives to live in a holy manner. To achieve, by their own undertaking, a certain standard of appearance and conduct that they believe would conform to the LORD's definition of "holiness". They are correct in taking this command seriously, but is it really something that the LORD intends for us to achieve out of our own strength only?
If we look at the root meaning of the word, we find something deeper: The root means "to foster with tender care, to warm, to keep warm, to cherish with tender love". This must imply a closeness, and even an intimacy of holding someone to warm, care for and cherish. I think this is much closer to the character of holiness, and that character of holiness comes from being warmed and cherished by God, Himself, in His arms and surrounded by His holy Being.
1 Peter 2:9 goes on to say that the purpose of this royalty and holiness is in order to proclaim the praises of God. It is connected with praise and worship, individually, and as part of a corporate body, or church, and as part of the Body of Christ in the earth.
Let's look at another verse in which holiness is directly connected to praise and worship.
"Give unto the LORD, O you mighty ones (ben-El, sons of God),
Give unto the LORD glory and strength.
Give unto the LORD the glory due His name;
Worship the LORD in the beauty (glory) of holiness. (to be set apart)" Psalm 29:1-2
The term holiness, here, means to be set apart, to be separate from the rest, kept only to God.
This separateness, or apartness from the world system doesn't come from our own strength. It comes in times of worship, according to this Psalm. I believe that our personal and corporate times of worship, bring us into that special presence and closeness with God that warms us as He cares tenderly for us, as we read previously, above. As we declare in our hearts, and out of our mouths, that we worship and love our LORD, the God of all creation, our Savior, our provider, our healer, our king, as we declare that we honor Him, need Him, and give thanks to Him, sincerely and deeply, we become one with His Spirit. When we enter into, and remain in His presence in worship, we don't have to try to act holy, because we become holy, we become royal, we are beautiful, becoming covered with the light of His glory.
"Hunger for Holiness"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1CpFEqxTiM
