Does Your Life Reflect God’s Holiness?
“Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord God, the Almighty,
who was, and is, and is to come.”
Rev. 4:8b
God is holy. He is completely righteous and totally separated from evil. He transcends everything else. The word holy has its roots in the Greek and means “separation from sin”. Because God is not subject to the frailties and limitations of His creation, He excels any standard of excellence and purity. He is the standard.
The Apostle Peter encourages every believer to be holy: “But like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy.’” 1 Peter 1:15-16 (NASB). I don’t know about you, but in my own strength I cannot be totally holy and pure day in and day out. How then can I reconcile my inappropriate thoughts and actions with my desire to follow Christ—to be like Him? How can anyone become holy?
According to scripture there is only one way we can be holy. It is through Christ’s sacrifice for us on Calvary’s cross that we can be seen as holy and pure in the eyes of a loving and merciful God. We are credited as being “made holy” and clean; therefore, we are positionally holy. “… But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” 1 Cor. 6:11b.
Unfortunately, we are too often unholy in our attitudes and practice. God sees us as holy, when He sees us through His Son, but I’m afraid, all too often, that’s not how the world sees us. Scripture instructs us, “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.” 2 Tim. 2:19b. We know that our wickedness robs us of the joy, the peace and the love God intended for each of us. Wickedness creates barriers in our relationships with others and, most importantly, our relationship with God. So, how can we “turn away” from wickedness?
We need to separate ourselves from the temptations, sin, and behaviors that tend to drag us down and take away our peace. In fact, we are told to flee from sin (1 Cor. 10:14, 1 Cor. 6:18). Like the angels urged Lot and his family when they led them out of Sodom and Gomorrah—“Flee for your lives! Don’t look back, and don’t stop anywhere in the plain! Flee…or you will be swept away!” (Gen. 19:17).
Peter takes it a step further, knowing when we turn away from something, we must turn towards something—in this case Someone: God! “He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it.” 1 Peter 3:11. In fact, it is the turning toward God that gives us the strength to flee, or as the Apostle Paul puts it, to put off our old self: “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” Eph. 4:22-24.
Let us all endeavor to live a righteous and holy life—bearing witness to God’s love, mercy and holiness. As His “Disciples”, let’s confess any sin we have and pray that as we turn to Him, He will lead us away from those temptations that cause us to stumble…and be made new!
The Power of Truth:
- “He provided redemption for his people; he ordained his covenant forever—holy and awesome is his name.” Psalm 111:9
- “But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.’” 1 Peter 1:15-16
- “Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evil men. Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn from it and go on your way.” Proverbs 4:14-15
Suggestion for Prayer:
Confess your sins and ask God to make you holy.