1 Peter says 'Be holy, because I am holy'. Indeed He is. Set apart. Beyond compare. Different than the world...
Me? Not so much. But it is my desire...it is my hope and what I strive for...Here's the rub, though. As I sat in class next to my smart friend Jane (@janeygal), she showed me a commentary in her "Dallas Willard" Bible (he's even smarter than Jane--) that said often we miss what being holy really means. It isn't defined by what we do or don't do...and it certainly doesn't separate us the world so that we aren't approachable...or at least it shouldn't. I was reminded that Jesus attracted sinners...he didn't repel them. Who did he repel? The Pharisees...
My point is this...in our quest as Christians to "be holy", are we setting ourselves apart to the point of turning people away? Because if we are, we are not being Christlike. People far from God should be drawn to us by how we are different, not turned away....
Be holy in all you do...Is that holiness about the being, or the doing? Have we gotten that out of balance? Which is more important? Being holy, or "doing" holy...I think it's the being...it's who we are in Him...
I want to be holy. Like He is holy. Holy in that I love the unlovable, serve the unpopular, and see the invisible. I want to be like Jesus. That's all.
(God help me.)
I agree. Being always proceeds the doing. SUch is the heart of the gospel.
ReplyDeleteEphesians 2 - "You were dead in your trespasses ... But God saved you by grace through faith ... He has raised you up with Him and seated you with Him in the heavenly places ... For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."
ReplyDeleteAudrie and I were just talking and praying about being versus doing. This is the great gospel that we proclaim ... that God HAS DONE everything! One of the biggest lies we can believe is that God did His part to save us, and now it is our turn to keep our end of the deal. But the beginning, middle and end of the Christian life is solely found in the completed work of Jesus. Salvation comes from Jesus, as does maturity in Christ. He is the great Giver and the great Worker. We receive everything from Him, and does the work through us.
As believers, we are already set apart ... and it is a sweet, sweet life finding out each day more and more that my holiness, both in being and doing, comes from Jesus and Him alone.
Love and miss you!
Too true! And p.s. This blogging does get easier ;)
ReplyDeleteKaren I like what you say,but you know me,I'm distracted by the walls behind your words.I can and will create that faux finish. You inspire me. Whether it's words,your life,or your style,it's accomplished.I love,love,love you karen sue-
ReplyDeleteI do.
Leslie...you are extremely creative. thanks for your comment. Jay and Brie too... Thanks for reading!
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