Scripture Focus
Ezekiel 42:13–14 (NLT)
“Then the man told me, ‘These rooms that overlook the Temple from the north and south are holy. Here the priests who offer sacrifices to the Lord will eat the most holy offerings. And because these rooms are holy, they will be used to store the sacred offerings—the grain offerings, sin offerings, and guilt offerings. When the priests leave the sanctuary, they must not go directly to the outer courtyard. They must first take off the clothes they wore while ministering, because these clothes are holy. They must put on other clothes before entering the parts of the building complex open to the public.’”


Ezekiel 43:2–5, 7, 12 (NLT)
“Suddenly, the glory of the God of Israel appeared from the east. The sound of his coming was like the roar of rushing waters, and the whole landscape shone with his glory. ....... I fell face down on the ground. And the glory of the Lord came into the Temple through the east gateway. Then the Spirit took me up and brought me into the inner courtyard, and the glory of the Lord filled the Temple. The Lord said to me, ‘Son of man, this is the place of my throne and the place where I will rest my feet. I will live here forever among the people of Israel. They and their kings will not defile my holy name any longer… And this is the basic law of the Temple: absolute holiness! The entire top of the mountain where the Temple is built is holy. Yes, this is the basic law of the Temple.’”


Ezekiel 44:4–5, 15–16 (NLT)
..................... I looked and saw that the glory of the Lord filled the Temple of the Lord, and I fell face down on the ground. And the Lord said to me, ‘Son of man, take careful notice. Use your eyes and ears, and listen to everything I tell you about the regulations concerning the Lord’s Temple. Take careful note of the procedures for using the Temple’s entrances and exits.’”
“‘However, the Levitical priests of the family of Zadok continued to minister faithfully in the Temple when Israel abandoned me for idols. These men will serve as my ministers. They will stand in my presence and offer the fat and blood of the sacrifices, says the Sovereign Lord. They alone will enter my sanctuary and approach my table to serve me. They will fulfill all my requirements.’”


Revelation 22:1, 3, 7, 12–13, 20 (NLT)
“Then the angel showed me a river with the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb. No longer will there be a curse upon anything. For the throne of God and of the Lamb will be there, and his servants will worship him. ‘Look, I am coming soon! Blessed are those who obey the words of prophecy written in this book.’ ‘Look, I am coming soon, bringing my reward with me to repay all people according to their deeds. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.’ He who is the faithful witness to all these things says, ‘Yes, I am coming soon!’ Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!”


Reflection
Ezekiel’s vision is powerful: before God’s glory filled the temple, the priests had to be careful to change their garments, follow the law of holiness, and treat the sanctuary as sacred (Ezek. 42:13–14). The principle is clear: God cannot fill a dirty vessel. His glory dwells where there is holiness. Just as the priests had to put away their ministering garments before stepping out into the courtyard, we too must strip off what defiles us if we want to walk in His presence.
When Ezekiel saw the glory of the Lord coming from the east, it was overwhelming — the roar was like rushing waters, and the whole land shone with His brilliance (Ezek. 43:2). God declared: “This is the place of my throne… I will live here forever among the people of Israel… And this is the basic law of the Temple: absolute holiness!” (Ezek. 43:7, 12). Holiness is the condition for His glory to rest with His people.


What Does “Holy” Mean?

• Hebrew – qādôš (קָדוֹשׁ): means “set apart, consecrated, dedicated.” It carries the idea of being distinct from the ordinary, reserved for God’s purposes, unstained by common use.
• Greek – hagios (ἅγιος): means “sacred, pure, morally blameless, set apart.” In the New Testament, believers are called “saints” (hagioi) — not because of perfection in ourselves, but because we are set apart by God through Christ.

Holiness, then, is both positional and practical. In Christ, we are already set apart, clothed in His righteousness. Yet God calls us to walk in holiness — to separate from sin, confess when we stumble, and live consecrated lives that reflect His character.


Does God Call Us to Be Holy?
Yes. Over and over:

• “Be holy, because I am holy” (Leviticus 11:44; 1 Peter 1:16).
• “Without holiness no one will see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14).
• “For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life” (1 Thessalonians 4:7).

Holiness isn’t an option for “super-spiritual” Christians; it is the expectation for all who belong to the Lord.


What Does Holiness Look Like?

• Confession: A life quick to repent and cleanse itself before God (1 John 1:9).
• Obedience: Choosing God’s ways over the pull of the flesh or the world (Romans 12:1–2).
• Separation: Refusing compromise with sin or idolatry (2 Corinthians 6:17).
• Devotion: Living set apart, fully available to God’s purposes (Romans 6:13).
• Reflection of Christ: Holiness is not cold legalism but Christlikeness — love, purity, integrity, mercy, truth.

Desiring His Glory
The priests’ careful holiness prepared a place for God’s glory. In the same way, our confession and consecration prepare our hearts for His Spirit to fill and shine through us. Paul says, “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27). We don’t just long for heaven one day; we long for His glory to shine in our lives today.
And so, like John at the end of Revelation, our cry becomes: “Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!” (Rev. 22:20). Fill Your temple — both our hearts and Your Church — with Your glory as we walk in holiness before You.


Lesson for Me
God requires holiness before He fills His temple with glory. If I want His Spirit to shine through me, I must not tolerate sin in my life. Holiness means being set apart — confessing sin, obeying His Word, and living in devotion to Him. The more I pursue holiness, the more I will experience His presence and reflect His glory.


Application Questions

1. Are there areas in my life where I’ve been careless about holiness?
2. What “garments” of sin or compromise do I need to lay aside so God’s Spirit can fill me more fully?
3. How can I daily walk in confession and consecration instead of slipping into complacency?
4. Do I long for God’s glory to shine through me, or am I more concerned with how people see me?
5. What practical steps can I take this week to live “set apart” for the Lord?

Prayer 🙏
Father, You are holy, and You have called me to be holy as You are holy. Forgive me for the times I have allowed compromise, impurity, or distractions to defile the temple of my heart. Cleanse me through the blood of Jesus, and set me apart again for Your purposes. Fill me with Your Spirit so that Your glory may shine through me — in my words, my actions, and my daily choices. May I live as one who belongs to You, reflecting Your holiness to a world that desperately needs to see Your light. In Jesus’ name, Amen.


Takeaway
Holiness prepares the way for His glory — God will fill only clean vessels.


Journaling Reminder ✍️
Take time to sit quietly before the Lord. Ask Him to show you areas in your life that need cleansing, or places where He wants you to walk more set apart for Him. Journal what He speaks to your heart — what He wants you to remove, what He wants to strengthen, and how He wants His glory to shine through you.


Promise to Hold Onto 🌟
“I will live here forever among the people of Israel… And this is the basic law of the Temple: absolute holiness!” (Ezekiel 43:7, 12 NLT)
God promises to dwell with His people forever. As we walk in holiness, we can be confident that His presence will not leave us — His glory will fill our lives and His Spirit will shine through us.