One of the most meaningful and soul-stirring songs that we sing in worship is William Longstaff’s “Take Time to Be Holy” from 1874. The lyrics of that song are founded upon Scriptural principles that cultivate holiness in the life of the Christian. God, who called us, is holy, and He beckons us, “You also be holy in all your conduct” (1 Pet. 1:15-16). Consider carefully the words from this song that correlate so beautifully with the New Testament.
“Take time to be holy…Speak oft with thy Lord.” Holiness comes by spending time with the Lord in prayer (1 Thess. 5:17; Phil. 4:6-7; Col. 4:2).
“Take time to be holy…Abide in Him always, and feed on His word.” Holiness comes about when I study and abide in God’s Word and allow it to abide in me (John 15:1-7).
“Take time to be holy…Make friends of God’s children.” It is so much easier (and enjoyable) to be holy when we do it together as brethren in Christ (1 Cor. 12:12-27; 15:33).
“Take time to be holy…Help those who are weak.” True holiness requires that I look beyond myself and do good unto others (Matt. 7:12; Gal. 6:10; Rom. 15:1; 1 Thess. 5:14).
“Take time to be holy…Spend much time in secret with Jesus alone…Like Him thou shalt be.” To be conformed to His image, I must spend time letting Him transform me through the mirror of His Word (Rom. 8:29; 2 Cor. 3:18).
“Take time to be holy…Let Him be thy Guide; and run not before Him.” God’s Word must truly be “a lamp to my feet and a light to my path,” so that I will not turn from the Lord in any direction (Psa. 119:105; Prov. 30:6; Deut. 4:2).
“Take time to be holy…In joy or in sorrow, still follow thy Lord.” Holiness looks beyond the circumstances of life and is devoted fully to the way of the Lord (Phil. 4:4-7; 1:20-21; Matt. 6:25-34).
“Take time to be holy…Be calm in thy soul.” Instead of trying to keep up, as “the world rushes on,” we need to learn to “be still” and trust the Lord (Psa. 46:10; Prov. 3:5-6; Phil. 4:6-7; Col. 3:15).
“Take time to be holy…Each thought and each motive beneath His control.” It is so critical, in our endeavor to live holy lives, to keep our thoughts and desires holy (2 Cor. 10:5; Phil. 4:8), for “as he thinks in his heart, so is he” (Prov. 23:7).
“Be holy, for I am holy” (1 Pet. 1:16). We must “not be conformed to this world” (Rom. 12:2), but we must “sanctify Christ as Lord” in our hearts, in everything that we say, want, think and do (1 Pet. 3:15; Col. 3:17).
Brothers and sisters, let’s take time to be holy!