Thoughts on Holiness in the Home ⋆ SomeTyme Place

Nothing can make a man truly great but being truly good, and partaking of God’s holiness.
matthew henry

Holiness in the Home. January 2026.

Currently, I am studying Exodus, one of the liveliest books of the Bible, with its account of the plagues, the great escape from Egypt, and the miraculous crossing of the Red Sea. And then about halfway through the book, the Israelites make a stop. Moses instructs the group to be on their best behaviour while he ascends Mount Sinai to receive instructions from God on next steps, leading to several highly detailed, very dry chapters on the new laws, the tabernacle, and the priests’ attire. Things get lively again in chapter 32 when Moses comes down and finds God’s chosen people already taking matters into their own hands by worshipping a shiny, brand-new golden calf, made by none other than Moses’s own brother, who is supposed to be keeping an eye on things. Aaron immediately makes excuses, and then, in a rage, Moses smashes the brand-new set of 10 Commandments, handwritten by God, and has to go back up Mount Sinai for another set.

At this point, the reader may be scornful at the ridiculousness of the people’s rebellion, especially when you consider that God is right there leading them in a large cloud for everyone to see (and a pillar of fire by night). Hopefully, we see the lesson for our own lives and are contrite and humble enough to remember our own daily sins and how often we also take matters into our own hands. And guess what? The cloud may not be present, but God remains omnipresent. Exodus may seem like a book for Sunday school, yet it is much more. It is not a book to be overlooked by Christians, even the boring parts.

Studying God’s Word

And it was in the drier parts that some Holy Spirit thoughts began to surface. When reading God’s word, you can know something with the knowledge of many years, and it can come alive all over again in a new way. That is the power of God’s word, and I have seen it again and again in my life. It is also why we should continually read the word of God. Today, I read His instructions for building the tabernacle for the umpteenth time and found myself with thoughts on not just holiness, but holiness in the home.

The Israelites in Exodus had no idea what true holiness looked like. Chapter 32 shows not just the lack of respect the people had for God in worship, but the influence of the false religions around them. God had to tell Moses exactly what to do. The people simply could not be trusted to build the tabernacle and set the standard for worship, given their sinful natures. Moses, God’s own friend and considered the most humble man on earth, didn’t even get to pick the men for the job. God hand-picked the artist and filled him with His Spirit. God’s nature cannot allow the abuse of His holiness. God anoints Bezalel for the task and gives him detailed instructions for creating a tabernacle for proper worship. Holiness is not instinctive to our sinful human nature, so we must let God guide us in this.

What is Holiness?

Within our culture, the term holiness has become a relic of a word, buried somewhere deep in church archives. The Bible has a lot to say about what is and what isn’t holy. Strong’s concordance defines holy as this:

Consecrated thing, dedicated thing, hallowed thing, holiness, most holy day, portion, thing, saint
strong’s concordance, 6944

To be holy is to be set apart. God defines what it means to be set apart throughout His word, making this a subject believers should study continually. In short, holiness, as God defines it, will make our lives look very different from those of the world. However, holiness isn’t so much about rules as it is about the actions that flow from us, showing our love for God. The things we see as rules will naturally begin to flow out of us if we love God and obey Him. If we make holiness about following rules, then we don’t understand it and become legalists. Neither does holiness make us better or more fit for heaven. Holiness and humility go hand in hand. Instead, we recognise why His way is better and actively pursue it. This desire for holiness should spring from a sincere yearning for God and our love for Him. We know His way is best for us.

Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.
2 Corinthians 7:1

Although Jesus came and brought us love, compassion, and the grace of a new covenant, that didn’t mean He isn’t holy or that holiness could be dispensed with. Yes, He became one of us, but He isn’t our sidekick bff, or just one of the gang. Even the demons knew who Jesus really was and called Him holy and feared Him. Biblical fear is reverence and awe, something we have lost in the self-proclaimed “age of reason”. However, not only is God still holy, but if we claim that God lives in us, we are also called to be holy.

Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”
1 Peter 1:13-16

If we struggle with desiring this, we can pray for a desire for holiness. We can ask God to work in our lives on this. Isn’t God’s amazing grace wonderful?

Holiness in the Home

My mind shifted to our own home and how particular I am about its care. While raising my kids, I desired to create a place of comfort, peace, and refuge for our family in an uncertain world. This is a natural and good desire, but is it a holy home? Are we set apart from the world, or do we blend right in? How many times have I failed in this, and yet God’s grace still abounds! The single most important thing we can do to bring holiness into our homes is to reach up to God in persistent prayer. Prayer, more than anything, will invite God’s presence into our homes and make us more like Him. We should wear the names of our family emblazoned on our hearts before God, continually lifting them up as the high priest did when he wore the names of the Israel tribes:

“Whenever Aaron enters the Holy Place, he will bear the names of the sons of Israel over his heart on the breastpiece of decision as a continuing memorial before the Lord.
exodus 28:29

Grown kids are even a better reason to keep lifting them up. When we let our children go, the real work of prayer and faith begins. Continual prayer is evidence of our faith in God, something He has been working on in me. A couple of years ago, I began waking up at night. As my dad did years ago, I quickly realised God’s call to lift my family up to the Lord in those wee hours. When we pray without ceasing, we become set apart. We invite God’s holiness into our homes. Our homes become lighthouses in the stormy sea that surrounds us.

On my bed I remember you;
I think of you through the watches of the night.
psalms 63:6

Children, both young and old, exist in a cultural tempest pulling on them in all directions. Holy homes are a refuge. They are beacons in a dark world. Oh Lord, let us desire holiness. Lord, please make our homes holy as well. May we lift up our loved ones day and night continuously. Make us set apart, Lord.