The word holy has a bad reputation today. A holy-roller is “holier-than-thou.” Holy is placed before any and all exclamations: Holy cow! Holy smoke! Holy malarkey!

Yet in the Bible, we come to know a holy God. Peter said, “as the One who called you is holy, you also are to be holy in all your conduct” (1 Pet. 1:15, HCSB).

The English origin of our word holy is “whole.” To be “whole” is to be complete or mature. Can we aspire to be wholly whole, or wholly holy? This week let’s determine ways to be wholly holy in dependence, character, thoughts, speech, and actions.

Holy Speech

For the one who wants to love life and to see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit.

1 Peter 3:10

What do you do when someone says something critical about you?

Recently, I spoke at a women’s luncheon. Afterwards, several people came by to express appreciation. One lady remained.

She used one of my remarks to launch into her own work history in the fashion industry. She selected fabrics and did much of the sewing. “Clothes just aren’t made the way they used to be,” she lamented. “Take what you’re wearing … ”

Now, I may be no clotheshorse, but I had carefully selected my outfit from an upper tier department store. Flabbergasted by her remark, I remained silent while she carried on with her list of complaints about modern dressmaking.

Her remark reminded me of another one from a lady I encountered at a ministers/wives retreat. I was climbing into the swimming pool when the only other occupant commented on my one-piece swimsuit. “I didn’t know they made those anymore,” she laughed.

Again, I was speechless with surprise. I don’t know how other people handle these situations, but I don’t seem to have a ready list of clever replies, whether the comment is about my hair, complexion, or shoe size.

And why do people even comment on other people’s appearance, unless they want to give a compliment? Beats me.

Today’s Dose verse seems wise (especially if you don’t want your teeth rearranged). But in our society, where every stray thought winds up on Twitter, I wonder if we haven’t lost a notch on simple kindness.

In Philippians 4:8 Paul tells us to think about things that are pure, righteous, excellent, praiseworthy, lovely, admirable, noble, and true. That lets out a bunch of conversation and almost every line of today’s reality shows, movies, and television programming.

For today, keep any “rotten speech” (Eph. 4:29) at bay—whether from your mouth or anything electronic!

Seeking to be wholly holy,

Betty

Photo credit: Olga Vasilkova | Dreamstime Stock Photos