Be Holy

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Scripture

Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
(1 Peter 1:13 NASB)
As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance,
(1 Peter 1:14 NASB)
but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior;
(1 Peter 1:15 NASB)
because it is written, “YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY.”
(1 Peter 1:16 NASB)

 

Observation


Reading through the New Testament we are reminded by the varied authors that there is a goal for all of humanity and that is to take on the very nature of God and to be his holy people. This Christian life is to be one of transformation in which the believer participates with God in the process. Our responsibility is to prepare our minds by way of spiritual discipline. Yes, we are to read, to study, to learn, to take care of our physical bodies, to be sober in our spirit and to realize that all of our hope is in Jesus Christ alone! Yes, we are to run from the sins of our past. When we begin to understand that the things we have been doing can lead us to destruction we are to literally run from them. Instead, we are to take on the behavior of Jesus Christ. Through imitation of Christ, we participate in Christ and we are transformed into his holy people. Yes, it is possible! Be holy!

 

Application


I have heard many well-meaning people through the years say that there is no way that they can be holy. Of course they are referring to the fact that they themselves cannot make themselves holy and this is very true. But has this well-meaning response revealed that we do not have the faith to believe that God can do his work through us and that we can be holy because He is holy? God's hope for all of mankind is that we be made holy. That is the journey on which we are traveling.

We have to admit that along the way we have, at times, distorted the call to be holy. Somehow we have made holiness about the externals of life. Yes, even in these verses we are told to run from the past life in which we lived in sin, but holiness is not about the externals. The externals are what drag us away from the holiness of Christ. Holiness comes from participation in Christ, and that is where our central focus must always remain. However, we must understand that the word participation implies two parts. It includes my action and His action as well. Therefore we must be active participants in the journey of holiness. Run from evil -- and into the arms of a loving God who will envelope us with his holy embrace. The verse is an imperative -- it is a calling -- be holy!

 

Prayer


Lord, in the midst of the craziness of this world may we run into your arms today and may you surround us with your overwhelming holy love. May that holy love spill over today. Amen.

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