Pursuit of Holiness
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
1 Peter 2:9
The above verse gives us our identity in Christ, and this identity calls all people in God’s family to be Holy. Holy means we are set apart and represent Christ in all situations. No matter what the world around us is thinking or doing, we remain faithful to our Lord and exhibit Christ-like behavior. We follow our Lord and not the way of the world.
Do you find certain things in life that keep you from being Holy? Any time we yield to the sinful ways of the world, we replace holiness with worldliness. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:2) God is renewing our minds to be Holy, not to conform to the pattern of this world.
How do we remain Holy when it so easy to fall into the pattern of this world? Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. (Hebrews 12:14) How can we reveal Christ to the world if we are not holy? To reflect Christ we must be holy because we cannot reflect Christ and be worldly. We cannot follow the sinful world and Christ at the same time. If we realize that we exist to reflect Christ to the world, then it will force us to be holy.
How does being Holy affect our lives? To be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. (Ephesians 4:23-24). A holy person is a person who is closer to the Lord than to the world. And being closer to the Lord is a divine blessing and gives us a freedom that only comes from God. If we are truly Holy, then we are filled with God’s love, peace, and joy, and we walk with confidence, security, and wisdom. To be Holy is to be a Christian.
Today we see church groups becoming less holy and more worldly. The opening verse to this message says we are a “holy nation,” which means that God’s family, the church, is to be holy. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. (Hebrews 13:8) Christ and his Word never change and we should never deviate from the Truth.
Today make an effort to remain holy in all situations. Don’t let Satan excite your emotions to worldly responses, but remain holy with a heart of love and with Godly wisdom. Seek to always be in control through the power of the Spirit. Seek to make your thoughts, words, and actions holy.
Let’s Pray: Lord, help me to remain holy today and not to yield to Satan’s attacks. Help me to keep my emotions under control so that I can remain holy and reflect your love and wisdom.