Bless the Lord, O my soul,   
And all that is within me,   
bless His holy name.   
Bless the Lord, O my soul,   
And forget none of His benefits.   
- Psalms 103:1-2   
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"Take Time To Be Holy"

             Our songs in worship are designed to instruct as well as praise.  A familiar song with an important message is "Take Time To Be Holy".  It is song#118in our song book.  The children of God are to be holy in conduct.   1Peter 1:15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,1 Peter 1:16 because it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy."

               We need to take time to be holy. As expressed in the beginning of the second verse, the world rushes on. Our lives are certainly hectic and fast-paced, filled with activities that consume our time.  Time passes quickly. James 4:14For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.  Before we know it, time will have slipped by.

               It takes time to be holy. This is the key presumption upon which this song is based. Holiness must be pursued.Heb12:14 Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord. Holiness is the fruit of service to God. Rom 6:22 But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life.

               If we are not careful, time to develop holiness will be gone.  So we must "Take Time To Be Holy."  This needs to be a priority in our lives.

               The way to take time to be holy is to spend time with the Lord. The song encourages us to "Abide in Him always", "Spend much time in secret with Jesus alone" The means to do so involves praying as suggested by the song, "Speak oft with thy Lord", "Forgetting in nothing His blessings to seek", and to feed on His word.  We cannot overestimate the importance of finding time to be with the Lord alone through prayer and the Word.

               We can also take time to spend time with others. This includes fellowship with other Christians, "Make friends of God's children" Acts 2:42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.  This includes service to our fellowman "Help those who are weak" Gal 6:10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith. We must not be so busy that we don't have time to be with brethren and to help others as we have opportunity.

               If we take time to be holy we will be blessed with inner peace and happiness, "Be calm in thy soul". With renewed strength, "Each thought and each motive beneath His control".  With increasing realization of God's love, "Led by His Spirit to fountains of love".

               If we take time to be holy we will become more like Christ, which is the ultimate goal of discipleship, "Like Him thou shalt be". If we are more like Christ it will be noticed by others, "Thy friends in thy conduct His likeness shall see" 

               May this song "Take Time To Be Holy" always remind us of the need to slow down, and to do those things so crucial to our spiritual growth and happiness.

               Taken in part from a sermon by Mark Copeland

- Dewey Stidham Jr.  



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