TAKE TIME TO BE HOLY
Scriptural Text: 1 Peter 1:13-16
As Christians, we are commanded to be holy. To be holy means to belong to God. We are consecrated & separated for the service of God. When we are holy, like God is holy, then we are conforming in all things to the will of the Father in Heaven. Personal holiness is a work of gradual development. We are called to be holy, even in the midst of hindrances. For this reason, we are given frequent admonitions by God to be watchful, to pray, & to persevere.
When we engage in these disciplines, then we are becoming more Christ-like in both our conversation & disposition. As children of God, we must take time to be holy on purpose. Let Jesus, the personification of holiness, show us how.
The “H” In HOLY Stands For “Humility” (Philippians 2:5-8)
Jesus came down from the splendors of Heaven & humbled Himself, becoming “in fashion as a man.” He was not affected by sinful pride or social pressures, but lived to help others. Jesus humbled Himself in order to pay the penalty for the sins of mankind. Humility is concurrent with holiness. As Christians, we must be willing to do the small & thankless tasks of helping others, like Jesus helped & continues to help us. Listen to your Bible! In 1 Peter 5:6, the Bible reads, “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time.” We must take time to be holy by following the example of Christ, who was both loving & forgiving.
The “O” In HOLY Stands For “Obedience” (Hebrews 5:7-9)
Christ was obedient to His Father. He wanted to please God in everything He did. As Christians, we know what we ought to do for Christ, yet we fail to do it at times. Why? It is because we pursue pleasures & possessions rather than purpose & perfection. If we are to obey the command to be holy, like Christ is holy, then we must be obedient like Christ was. Listen to your Bible! In
Matthew 6:33, the Bible reads, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” We must take time to be holy by giving God first place in our lives.
The “L” In HOLY Stands For “Loving” (John 17:26)
Jesus not only loved His friends, but He loved His enemies as well. Jesus loved so much that He gave His life so mankind, inclusive of us, may live. As Christians, we must love as Jesus did. We must pray for, forgive, & love those who hurt, disappoint, & misunderstand us. We cannot be holy, nor can God call us holy, unless we love the Father & others. Listen to your Bible! In 1 John 4:11, the Bible reads, “Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.” Our love should reach out to help the helpless. Our love should give hope to the hopeless. Our love should share Christ with those who do not know Him. We must take time to be holy by displaying agape love toward all men.
The “Y” In HOLY Stands For “Yielding” (Luke 22:42)
When our Savior had to make a choice between saving Himself & saving us, He chose us. This required Him to not “yield” to temptation, but rather to yield to the will of the Father. God’s will is best for us, even in times of trouble, testing, & trials (Romans 8:28). To be holy means to be totally committed to the will of God. Listen to your Bible! In Romans 6:22, the Bible reads, “But now being made free from sin, & become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, & the end everlasting life.” Yielding to God & not sin enables us to work righteousness in this life, which will ultimately bring assurance of everlasting life. Let us take time to be holy by yielding to God’s will.
So let us roll up our sleeves. Let us put our minds in gear. Let us be totally ready to receive the gift that is coming when Jesus arrives again. Do not lazily slip back into those old grooves of evil, doing just what we feel like doing. We did not know any better then; now we do. As obedient children, let us be pulled into a way of life shaped by God’s life; a life energetic & blazing with holiness. God said, “I am holy; you be holy.”