The Bible says of him: “By faith Moses, when grown up, refused to be called the son of the daughter of Pharaoh, choosing to be ill-treated with the people of God rather than to have the temporary enjoyment of sin, because he esteemed the reproach of the Christ as riches greater than the treasures of Egypt; for he looked intently toward the payment of the reward.” (Heb. 11:24-26) Moses refused the offer to be a friend of that world, with its riches and attractions, because he desired a reward from Jehovah. What was that reward? He knew that by remaining a friend of God he would be remembered by God and have a resurrection to life in a righteous new order.

21. (a) What must we do to gain the reward reserved for God’s friends? (b) What is the reward that we receive?

²¹ May our faith and hope be as strong as that of Moses. May we, in all avenues of life, keep ourselves “unspotted” from the world and its friends. May our thinking and actions be centered around our close friend, Jehovah. May our heart’s desire be to continue to attach ourselves affectionately to him as an intimate friend. Whether we are one of the “Lord’s anointed” or one of the “great crowd,” it will mean many blessings NOW, but, most rewarding of all, we will receive the prize of everlasting life in a righteous new order inhabited only by the friends of Jehovah.​—1 Tim. 4:8.

You Must Be Holy Because Jehovah Is Holy

“Do you also become holy yourselves in all your conduct.”​—1 Pet. 1:15.

1. What thoughts may come to mind when you hear the word “holy”?

WHEN you hear someone mention the word “holy,” what comes to your mind? Do you think that “holiness” is something beyond your reach, an unattainable quality? Or that you could never measure up to being a “holy” person? On the other hand, do you picture a “holy” person as one depicted by Christendom or heathendom​—a person displaying a pious look, dressed in some special garb, with a sanctimonious attitude, a holier-than-thou individual? Well, if that is what you envision when the word “holy” is mentioned, then you have yet to understand what the Bible means by that term.

2. What meaning do the Hebrew and Greek words convey for “holy” and “holiness”?

² The English words “holy” and “holiness” in the Bible are translated from Hebrew words that appear to have the root meaning “to be clean,” “to be new or fresh, untarnished.” This would apply in a physical sense, but, more importantly, in a spiritual or moral sense. Thus, the words mainly have to do with moral cleanness, sacredness, purity. These Hebrew words also convey the idea of being separate, exclusive, or sanctified to God. In the Christian Greek Scriptures, the