To Be Holy You Have To . . .

But just as he who called you is holy, be holy in all you do; for is it written, "Be holy, because I am holy." I Peter 1:16

Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. Hebrews 12:14

As Christians, we are called, even commanded, to be holy. According to the passage from Hebrews above, holiness is essential and required if we are going to see God. That's pretty important. I want to see God. I want to be holy.

But what does that mean?

Holiness is a distinction, an identifiable quality of being reserved or allocated for a certain and special purpose. To be holy means to be separated and different from that which is ordinary. Clear as mud?


Simply put, in terms I can understand, holy means set apart. In Christian application, being holy means being set apart for God. If we are holy, we are different, distinct, and distinguishable from the rest of the world. As a Christian, you are supposed to be different.

Being different isn't easy.

The world has some not-so-flattering sayings regarding holiness. Holier than thou, holy-roller, and holy crap (or worse), to name a few. In a world that speaks of dung being holy on a daily basis, holiness is not taken seriously, or when it is, it's seen as something strange and unusual, which is not entirely wrong.

To be holy, we must live for God. Not for ourselves, or for the world, but God and God alone. That is strange and unusual. Most people, including many claiming Christianity, live to please themselves. Anyone who acts differently from that is immediately recognizable, and often stigmatized. It's not easy to be different, but God never said following Him would be easy.

Can we be holy?

We will never, in this life, match the holiness of God. Only He is perfect, truly set apart. We all sin. We all fall short. Satan would have us believe we shouldn't even try. If we know we are going to fail, why put forth the effort?


The answer to that is in the verses above. We are called to strive for holiness. The author of Hebrews says, "make every effort . . . to be holy." We are to be set apart from the rest of the world in what we do, what we say, and how we think. Holiness is less about actions than it is about motivation. You can do a lot of "good" things and fall far short of holiness.

What does it mean to be holy?

It means setting your mind on things above, not on earthly things (Colossians 3:2). Want to be holy? Put God front and center in your life. Constantly. Before you do or say anything, think about God. Where is He in your decision? Check your motivations. Why are doing, or thinking, this or that? Holiness is simple: Put God first. Simple, but not easy.


Holiness is about why you do what you do. Jesus fed the poor, healed the sick, and comforted the grieving. Even today, people would say those actions are "holy." They equate good works and kindness with holiness. Jesus also cleared the temple with a whip, called the Pharisees white-washed tombs, and referred to His disciples as stubborn and slow-minded. Was He any less holy then?

A holy person is not necessarily the perfectly peaceful angel with the halo pictured above. A holy person is one who does what God wants them to do. They put God first, and set themselves apart from the purposes of the world. They strive to be like Christ, who is God, because He, and He alone, is holy.

That's what it means to be holy.

Your Brother Will Rise Again

We have hope.

As we close the week of Veterans Day, remembering the heroes of our freedom, let us never forget that some have paid the ultimate price. When I speak with those who have served, often times their voice chokes off and gaze grows distant as they remember their fallen brothers. The ugly reality of war is this: Soldiers fall.

As Christians, however, we have a hope that extends far beyond the bonds of death.

Another reality.

While it is true that war claims the lives of many, everyone faces the same reality: Until the return of Jesus Christ, we are all going to die. I say this not to diminish the sacrifice of those who have fallen in battle, nor to whitewash the grief of those they have left behind. I point this out so that our eyes may be opened, not only to the reality of our mortality, but more important, the surety of our eternity.

Unless I see the return of my Lord Jesus Christ before my time comes, I will die, and so will you. No one can escape. Without some hope, some confidence in a life to come, I would face that day with dread and fear.

But I fear not.

The reason I do not fear death is simple. Wherever I fall, there I will not remain. Just as Jesus promised the sister of Lazarus, I will rise again. I do not expect Him to call me from the grave three days later as He did with His friend, but I have absolute confidence that I will rise.

In the meantime, as my body sleeps in this mortal place, my soul will be in heaven with my Father and those who have gone before me.

That being true, what is there to fear?

Your brother will rise again.

What a promise. What an assurance. Your Christian brothers and sisters, no matter when, where, or how they have gone, will rise again. In victory.

Could anyone hope for anything more?

 

No Greater Love

He said it, not me.

According to the words of none other than Jesus Christ himself, our veterans have shown the greatest love of all. I know the difference between Veteran's Day and Memorial Day, but as far as I am concerned, every veteran has demonstrated the love of which Jesus speaks. Jesus commanded His disciples, "Love each other as I have loved you (John 15:12). Then He defined the greatest love. Laying down your life for your friends.

Our veterans have laid down their lives.

Jesus died for us. He also laid down His life in other ways. He stepped off His heavenly throne to walk with us. Splendor and glory were traded for the rags of poverty. Power and authority He surrendered to be cursed, spit on, and hung on a cross. Understand this: Jesus gave up more than His body. He gave His all.

 No one joins the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, or Coast Guard to get rich. They do not seek fame or fortune for they know from history they are as likely to be greeted with infamy and poverty. Many have been spit on and cursed. And yes, countless have died. For us. They laid down their lives. They gave their all.

How do we say thank you?


Start by saying thank you. Pay attention. When someone mentions military service, thank them. That's more than most people do. You are looking at a person who gave up so much for you; is a word of gratitude too much to ask in return?

I say thank you.

To all the men and women who have served, know that you have my sincerest gratitude. I cannot say that I know what it cost you, but I do know what I gained in return. You have shown me the greatest love. I pray that you feel mine in return.

Of Strength and Courage

What is strength?

God commanded Joshua to be strong. What did He mean? Joshua was about to embark on a mission which even Moses had not been able to complete. He was to take the Israelites across the Jordon into the Promised Land. Face enemies he did not know. Lead people who refused to be lead. Follow God's commands without fail. Have faith. Trust.

All he had to do was be strong.

Joshua needed strong arms to wield his sword and javelin, to fend off blows with his shield, and defeat the enemy. He needed strong legs to march all day, run after his foes over hill and valley, and climb through the rubble of Jericho. Joshua needed a strong body, but was that alone enough?

What is courage?

God instructed Joshua to be courageous. Does that mean he was never afraid? No, I think not. Courage is action in the face of fear. Without fear, courage cannot exist.

God did not tell Joshua, Do not be afraid. He told him, do not be terrified, do not be discouraged. Being terrified means giving in to fear, just as being discouraged means lacking courage. Fear is not wrong; it is the reaction to fear that matters.

Where do strength and courage come from?

 The answer is the second half of the verse. God knew that alone, Joshua would lack the strength and courage to do what needed to be done. Alone, he would fail. The solution? God would be with him. Every step of the way. No matter where Joshua went, God promised that He would be at his side.

So it is with us. Whether crossing oceans on vessels of steel to face the enemies of our nation, or standing up to the enemy of our soul at home, work, or school--alone we will fail. We do not have the strength, we do not have the courage, to stand by ourselves. For that reason, God will never leave us nor forsake us.

Whatever your fight, wherever you find your field of battle, remember Joshua 1:9.

Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you, wherever you go.

If God Be For Us . . .

How powerful is Romans Chapter 8?

There is no condemnation for those who belong to Jesus    Christ . . . has freed you from the power of sin that leads to    death . . .by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins . . . what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will give us later . . . God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God . . . If God be for us, who can be against    us . . . For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Jesus Christ our Lord.

All of that from a single chapter in a single book in the Bible. Wow. With promises like that, if God be for us, who can be against us?

God has been with us.

I have the utmost respect, admiration, and gratitude for those who serve in the Armed Forces. I will say thank you a thousand times, and it will not be enough. I cannot know the price they paid for the freedoms I have.

I also know that it is God who causes nations to rise and fall, who decides the victor of every battle, who rules the land, the sea, the air. God, and Him alone. If He had not been with us, then many would have succeeded against us.

God is with us always.

Think again about Romans 8. No condemnation. Free from the power of sin. Glorious future. All things for our good. No one can stand against us. Nothing can separate us from His love.

Paul is talking about you, me, and everyone else who believes in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Once your are His, you are His forever. Nothing can take that away.

With that in mind, I repeat once more, If God be for us, who can be against us?

We all face a battle.

Every Christian is a warrior, by choice or conscription, it matters not. We are in the Lord's army--all of us who believe--and the enemy will come our way. Our duty, as those who have gone before us, is to bravely face the battle to come.

I encourage you, as indeed I encourage myself as I write those words, to keep this one thing in mind.

If God be for us, who can be against us?

Our Good Shepherd

God tends to His flock every day.

Do you realize that God looks you over every day, as a shepherd examines his sheep? Ensuring you have access to good pasture and clean water. Providing a secure haven, safe from predators and storms. With knowing eye and gentle hands, He examines every part of your being, from top to bottom, looking for anything out of place. He cares for you as His prized possession.

Like sheep, we sometimes don't understand the Shepherd's care. We fail to understand that when His hand is upon us, He seeks only our good. When He removes something harmful from our lives, we recoil at the momentary discomfort. As He moves us to new pastures, we bleat and stall, often planting our feet and refusing to move.

Our Shepherd, though, knows best. Patiently, ever patiently, He guides us along, speaking soothing words. When we listen, we hear Him, but only when we stop bleating our complaints.

His flock is ever increasing.

Every day, God is seeking to increase His flock. Walking through the wilderness of the world, He calls to those who have no shepherd. Showing them His pastures, His streams, His barns and storehouses, He offers them a better life. Protection. Provision. Promise.

Some come to Him. Sadly, some do not. Always, always, all are accepted who heed His voice. Never once is one turned away.

He seeks the strays.

Even sheep in a flock stray. That is their nature. Our nature.

Mistaking weeds for better pasture, oblivious to the danger of wandering from the flock, we go off on our own. We are not fenced in; rather, He allows us freedom to roam. Our boundaries are well marked, the fields He has chosen for us broad and wide. But like sheep, we are not satisfied with enough. Content to follow the longings in our bellies, we slip away.

The Shepherd, though, knows. His watchful eye misses nothing. When one of His flock goes off alone, He is right behind them. Ever calling, He pursues the wanderer. Not in anger, not in frustration, but in love. Care. Concern. He wishes not for one of His sheep to fall prey to the dangers lurking.

Sometimes the sheep happily return with the Shepherd. Other times He guides them with His staff. Occasionally, when one has strayed too far, He has to carry them home in His arms. Binding their wounds, picking the burrs from their wool, He soothes their fears.

He is not angry, you see. Even in His discipline, He seeks not to do harm. Correcting in love, guiding in care, tears of joy flow down His cheeks.

He has found His stray, and tomorrow, when He tends His flock yet once more, He will do it all again. 

A Recipe For Success

 Who doesn't want a recipe for success?

I cannot think of a single person who does not want to succeed. From the most aggressive, goal driven mover and shaker to the meekest, come-what-may dreamer I know--everyone wants to succeed at something. The mover and shaker wants to make life happen. The dreamer wishes for nothing more than peace and quiet to allow her imagination to explore. I am somewhere in the middle.

Everybody has a goal, and desires to know how to get there.

In God's hands, your plan will succeed.

That sounds great! There is, however, a catch. You have to commit to the Lord whatever you do. Why is that a catch? Because so much of what we do is not committed to the Lord in any way, shape, or form. Not even close.

That business deal--why do you want it to succeed? Will it glorify God? Will His kingdom grow because of it? Or that relationship you so want to see flourish--why? Are you going to be closer to God, or farther away if it gets more serious?

Committing your plans to the Lord means letting His will be done, not yours. That might mean what you want isn't what happens. That's not failure--that's God succeeding.

Success is defined by God, not us.

We tend to define success as achieving what we set out to do. I don't think that's what Solomon meant when he wrote Proverb 16:3. The wisest man in the world understood that success can only be measured by God. Sometimes when we fail to get what we want, God succeeds. Jesus prayed that He would not have to face the cross, but also prayed for God's will to be done. Jesus didn't get what He asked for, but God certainly succeeded. Understand?

So it is with us. Committing whatever we do to the Lord means putting it in His capable hands and letting Him define success. Romans 8:28 says, And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. When God works things out for our good, that is success. Even if, in our eyes, we fail. Let Him decide what it means to succeed.

Whatever it is, give it to God.

Apart from Him, we can do nothing (John 15:5), but with Him, we can do anything (Philippians 4:13). So whatever you do, commit it to the Lord, and let Him lead you to His success.