In Isaiah 62, God promises that one day He will restore His scattered people; that although they are now “desolate” and “forsaken” (:6) they will become “a praise on the earth” (:7).  But it is notable what the last verse of the chapter says that these people will be called:

Verse 12 proclaims: “And they will call them, ‘the holy people’, the redeemed of the LORD”.

God said that His people would be called: “the holy people.” That title should both instruct and challenge us.  If we are God’s people, then we will be called “holy.”  Notably, it says that “they” will call them that. In other words, His people would not call themselves “the holy people;” but those who observe their manner of life will describe them that way.

Which leads us to the searching question: if you consider yourself to be a “person of God”, would people around you describe you, and those associated with you in your church or ministry team, as “the holy people”?  Sadly, too many of us might be called “professional”, or “successful”, or “hip”, or “relevant”, or “funny”, or “entertaining” — but “holy”?

What in your life would keep people from calling you a “holy” person? What do they see; what sin; what habits; what compromise; what words; what attitudes; what missing acts of obedience and love?

We all want to lay claim to being “the redeemed of the Lord.”  But the best evidence of being genuinely redeemed is a holy life.  Has anyone called you a “holy” person recently?