The Questions Begin

Does God really expect us to be holy? What does holiness look like? If we are to be "holy" or set apart what does it look like? What are we set apart from? Why are we to be holy? What does it look like to be holy? How important is holiness? Can I be holy? These are just a small sampling of the questions that have been running through my head for the last month. I stumbled across a verse that I had overlooked numerous times in 1Peter where God is instructing us to be holy like He is holy. I probably had consciously decided to overlook this verse because upon reading it there would have to be action on my part. Ignorance is much easier to swallow than conviction. If I read this verse and choose to not respond am I any different than the Pharisees of Christ days? any different than the hypocrites of today? Does my faith become hollow and empty? The questions keep coming.

We tend to define holiness by the things we are doing that are "right". We care for people, we feed the poor, we help old ladies across the street, and we do not kick our dogs around. I am not quite sure if this is holiness though. Maybe humanitarians but not sure if that qualifies as holiness. I think holiness is a much deeper issue than just being good. God didn't just say be nice to people because I am nice to you. Be holy as I am holy is what He said. It probably would have been nice to have a checklist on "how to be holy" and I am sure with a quick search there have been several books written on just that. A checklist tho would have been nothing more than a way to become legalist, not holy. We would become good or bad at following rules but not holy. So where do we start?

Holiness is NOT following rules or even something that can be seen in our physical actions. It is the state of our heart. If we are to pursue holiness it is to pursue the ways of Jesus/God. Pursuing the very essence of God in EVERY aspect of our lives. We are not separating ourselves from the world but setting ourselves a part so God can have His way with us. Holiness must penetrate our every though. We tend to categorize or classify our lives in different spheres. First we classify it in right or wrong things, good or bad. Remember scripture tells us all our "good" deeds are like filthy rags. We separate our movies, music and lives into our church and regular, or Christian and secular. God does not draw the same line. ALL things were created by Him, for Him.

Our holiness is not rooted in ourselves but in a Holy God that desires so much more for us. As we pursue holiness we should also realize a deeper need to depend on Christ setting us apart to accomplish this. Pursue with me!