Becoming Holy?

The wallpaper on my laptop has a sunset scene with the words, “Be still and know that I am God.” The verse for today on my Bible program says:

Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God. (2 Corinthians 7:1)

A few weeks ago I ‘googled’ holy and one thesaurus had 109 synonyms and antonyms for this word. Another had 304. A dictionary of Bible words says holiness is the quintessential characteristic of God. “There is none holy like the Lord: for there is none besides you; there is no rock like our God.” (1 Samuel 2:2) It adds, that something or someone becomes holy when  withdrawn from common use for divine use — thus the idea of setting apart. To remove something from the realm of the holy is to “profane” or “make [it] common.” 

In other words, a holy person is more like God — in whose image we were created. This image is marred by sin, but by faith in Christ and the astonishing power of the Holy Spirit, those who belong to Jesus are promised great changes. These mentioned in the above verse are reminders to me of what holiness generally looks like. The NT says this:

What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.” (2 Corinthians 6:16–18)

This is a reality, yet who is there yet? Obviously, as the verse says, there is cleansing to be done and that holiness or being set apart for God is one of those ‘now and not yet’ aspects of being a Christian. I’ve yet to experience the fullness of “bringing holiness to completion.”

In today’s reading, John Piper illustrates holiness in action using the life of John Owen, a theologian who lived in the 1600s. He served politically as Oliver Cromwell’s chaplain and frequent speaker to Parliament, denominationally as the point man for all the controversies between Congregational and Presbyterian Puritans, theologically as the foremost Puritan defender of Calvinistic truth, academically as dean and vice chancellor in the University of Oxford, pastorally serving churches in and around London almost all his adult life, even when it was illegal to gather, and personally with a family of eleven children, ten of whom died while young, followed by the eleventh when she was a young adult. He also authored several books that have influenced many. 

In all this activity and tragedy, Owen’s passion was not public performance, but personal holiness. He said, “My heart’s desire unto God, and the chief design of my life … are that … universal holiness may be promoted in my own and in the hearts and ways of others.”

This man also said, “What better preparation can there be for [our future enjoyment of the glory of Christ] than in a constant previous contemplation of that glory in the revelation that is made in the Gospel.”

Owen and the Word of God challenge me. No idols, meaning nothing is more important than the worship and contemplation of Jesus Christ, honoring Him in all activities of my life, as insignificant as they are compared to what this man did. His life, as he said, was not about a list of what he did but about the depth of his love and devotion to the Lord.

PRAY: Jesus, when I quilt, I am motivated by seeing excellent examples made by others. When I see Christians like BT who is physically a mess yet always joyful, I stop complaining about my small aches and pains. When You show me saints like John Owen (and John Piper too) I realize ‘completed holiness’ is the goal in life to aim for, and the method is having a constant focus on You and Your glory. Make that more real in each of my days. I know it cannot happen apart from Your amazing grace.

Holy all the time?

 

Our church is focusing on what it means to keep the Sabbath. The emphasis is restoration from the stresses of life by making one day in seven special. The Bible terms it “holy” which means ‘consecrated to God’ plus synonyms such as blessed, chaste, dedicated, devoted, devout, faultless, glorified, god-fearing, godlike, godly, humble, immaculate, just, messianic, pietistic, pious, prayerful, pure, reverent, righeous, sacrosanct, sainted, saintlike, saintly, sanctified, seraphic, spotless, uncorrupt, undefiled, untainted, unworldly, venerable. An online thesaurus lists 353 synonyms and antonyms for this word.

What comes out just from these words is that the Sabbath is not a list of do’s and don’ts like no fun games, have a nap, no shopping, etc. but an attitude and focus that is not like any of the activities that cause me stress, fatigue, or to forget God, or live as if I can handle life without Him. It seems that Sabbath is more about an attitude and focus, one that the goal is to be at rest in Christ all the time, not just one day. I’m to always be talking with Him and doing what He says.

Not only that, Jesus is the model. He healed people on the Sabbath. Some might call that ‘work’ but helping a beast that has fallen into a ditch is not work either. Jesus said:

Which one of you who has a sheep, if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not take hold of it and lift it out? Of how much more value is a man than a sheep! So it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.(Matthew 12:11–12)

Jesus also said, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.” (Mark 2:27) We live in a day when stress is killing us. God intended that we take time from whatever is wearing us out and rest. . . .

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28–30)

The first burden is a heavy crate; the light “burden” is a word about the invoice on the crate. This illustrates what that load of trying to do life in my own strength is not God's idea. Eventually, it fails. I’m a capable person, but not God. Life teaches that without His grace, my mind runs out of focus and ideas, my emotions rob my energy, and my choices add to the pile. I need the mind of Christ, the peace and joy of the Holy Spirit, and the ‘invoice’ of God to give me direction so I don’t fall into the same pit. His grace grants all that and more.
The problem comes when I foolishly revert back to those habits of doing life without God.

Eventually those activities are “labor and heavy laden” and I need to return to resting in Christ. This is not about restraining from work, but about pursuing meaningful, soul-renewing rest—a shift in my habits toward something good, not just away from something bad.

Sabbath and rest does give me an opportunity to relax my physical body, but it is also about keeping that day holy. One author calls it “repopulate the time” or replacing it with worship and giving attention to more than simple inactivity. When I am not doing my work, I have to remember His work.

For some, the emphasis falls on rules or the do’s and don’ts taught in previous years, but these put us in slavery by taking over our mind-set. God wants His rest to be a gift to our souls not a mere change of pace or stoppage of all that stresses us.

PRAY: Jesus, this is talked about in terms of one day in seven, yet I’m thinking it is also a life-style, a way of thinking and a transformation into being more like You. You did good all the time, yet often went alone to pray to the Father. Sometimes You shed tears. Sometimes You served needs. Sometimes You sweat blood, but always Your focus and strength depended on Your yielded attitude and Your delight in serving whenever You saw the need. You are what it means to be holy.

What holiness looks like…

 
Since ‘holy’ is about purity and about being set apart and unlike or ‘other than’ this means the people of God are not like what we were once like. Our life “hid with Christ in God” is a hidden life as to its source, at least to those who do not focus on Jesus, but that life with Jesus must not be hidden as to its outward results. People ought to see that I walk as Christ walked. Even in challenges, my life will be different. It should prove that I possess what I profess. This means turning my back on everything that is contrary to the perfect will of God and being what some translations call “peculiar people” in the eyes of the people around me.

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. (Titus 2:11–14)

Wherever I go, this “other than” ought to be seen in my habits, state of mind, values, interests, conversations, and activities. For instance, because I am a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ, I must  no longer look on my money as mine, but as belonging to the Lord to be used in His service. I must not use my energies in the pursuit of worldly means, but “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness” knowing that God will take care of my needs. (Matthew 6:33)

God does not ask me to seek prominence or worldly advantages. I’m not to make myself the center of my thoughts and goals. My days are not to be spent serving me or my I-wants but in serving the Lord. He calls me to bear one another’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ. All my daily duties are to have His attitude, “not as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, rendering service with a good will as to the Lord” (Ephesians 6:5–8) The will of God is not only different but perfect, yet it does require something from me:

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:1–2)

First, I must yield to Him, not with eye-service as to impress others by looking good, but from the heart. This is “spiritual worship” and therefore from the spirit, the deepest part that is made alive in redemption and is my connection with the Spirit of God. My worship cannot be outward actions, or merely intellectual or emotional in nature. I can choose to worship but true worship is from the heart and all of my being, yielded totally to the Lord.

Also, I’m to say no to the world and its values, motivations, and the ways of expressing them:

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. (1 John 2:15–17)

All this means being different, ‘other than’ and often mocked by those who cannot fathom why anyone would live this way. It makes no sense to them. In our culture, our Christian ways are ignored, sometimes ridiculed or even opposed. In many parts of the world, this way is persecuted and many Christians die at the hands of those who see this ‘other than’ way of life as a threat to their own.

PRAY: Jesus, thank You for new life with its great challenge to be holy because You are holy. Keep my focus on You during these days of confusion and so many needs in others who ask for prayer and in those who deny that You even exist. Grant me the strength to persevere, not only in prayer but in being what You want me to be — holy and set apart for You.

Struggling to be Holy

 

Each day brings new problems. Not only do I want God’s will for solutions, but I wonder about the nature and the reasons for whatever happens. I realize this could be human curiosity, even sinful seeking for gossipy tidbits, but my heart deeply wants to know how to pray. Understanding people starts with understanding myself, yet I know that not everyone thinks the same, nor do they interpret others the same.

An example recently revealed that friends we see as open and transparent are not viewed like that by others. It came out when these friends withheld information from those they do not trust and were  viewed as secretive, even deceptive and called liars, which is not true. Guesses and conjecture. I’m beginning to realize why some say their relationships are ‘complicated’ and difficult to manage.

Hubby and I discuss issues like this one and conclude that many problems are God’s to solve. I have no idea how to let a person know that they are not trusted and told everything. How does anyone tell another person that their inability to listen is off-putting, or that laughing at a sad story is hurtful, or that always talking about themself makes listeners feel belittled. Conviction of sin is not my job. This is what God says to me today:

As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. (1 Peter 1:14–19)

The word ‘holy’ means having superior moral qualities yet goes beyond that as possessing divine qualities in contrast with what is human. God is unlike us, “other than” and beyond our goodness. He is described in the Bible in understandable terms, yet His fullness goes beyond familiar words.

I am reading “The Existence and Attributes of God” by Stephan Charnock that attempts to make known the realities of who God is in this lengthy, two-volume set. It is incredibly convicting as it describes the contrast between God’s thinking and human understanding. It also clearly describes the  difference between being Spirit-filled and living according to our old nature.

Charnock is convicting, but God is using his book to help me figure out why I do things and why other people do things. Sometimes the fleshy old nature is subtle and many Christians do not realize what makes them tick, never mind what makes others tick. However, in puzzling relationships, Charnock’s explanations are helping me know how to pray when I see any Christian conformed to the world and seem without the discernment to realized this as a problem.

God calls His people to a life of entire consecration and perfect trust. We must come out from the world and be separate, setting our minds and affections on heavenly things, not on earthly ones. Jesus said I must seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, surrendering every thing that would interfere with this, and walk through the world as Christ walked — with His mind and His tenderhearted kindness for one another, forgiving them as God forgave us. I am to return good for evil, seek the honor of others and not stand up for my own rights. I must be kind, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God, for Christ’s sake, has forgiven me. I must be gentle, meek, and yielding, not standing up for my own rights but for the rights of others. I must do everything not for my own glory but for the glory of God. This means I’m to be holy as God is holy, not like the world but like Jesus.

PRAY: In all the messes around me, I hear You telling me to keep my eyes on You, to be like You when confronted, or when others are walking in the flesh and expect me to get on their side. You always know what to say to those whose attitude is sinful. I don’t. So far, I can see such problems, pray for them, but am anxious that my sinful flesh does not pop up and harshly tell them they are in error. You show me in such kind ways and do not shame me when I act foolishly, so this is a hard place to be. Teach me to do and say the best thing when it is needed, and help me to keep my mouth shut when there is nothing You want me to do besides fervently praying.

“Be Holy as I am Holy . . . .”

 

Generations have attempted to define the holiness of God. Some say He is morally perfect. Others use terms like ‘set apart’ or He is utterly all that we are not, or completely without evil, or totally full of all that is good.

As humans, these concepts of God are difficult to grasp. Those to whom He reveals Himself know that God is holy yet how can sinful minds comprehend holy? Even those redeemed and declared holy in Christ and because of Christ struggle to describe what we know to be true.

Jesus said, “Pray then like this: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name . . . .’ ” (Matthew 6:9) and we pray it without any notions or connections to Halloween, computer games, ivy-covered walls of hallowed buildings, or any so-called holy traditions. God is a Being unlike all that we know, and we know He is and know that to hallow His name, we must set Him apart from all that is common, even all we consider ‘good’ and give Him the highest place, the honor and the awe that He deserves — because of who He is.

Not everyone does this. Scripture tells how some refuse to recognize what God shows about Himself in creation:

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. (Romans 1:18–23)

But lest I look down my nose at such foolishness, isn’t it just as foolish to treat God as ‘my buddy in the sky’ or a genie in a bottle, without reverence or honoring Him?

Scripture attributes holiness to persons or things consecrated to God’s service, such as the Sabbath day, the Israelite priests, and even believers in Christ because we belong to God, but those designations do not mean being like God, only that these are set apart for God.

God is holy, set apart from His creation, but also because He is pure and sinless in His character. Consider the reaction of Isaiah when he encountered angels who called out:

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!” And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!” (Isaiah 6:3–5)

In the NT, being in the presence of an angel from God put people on their face. Seeing holiness is too much for us. Could this be why God came as He did?

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)

And the response? His holiness, His ‘otherness’ was too much for them; they killed Him.

As for those who ‘got it’, “He gave the right to become children of God” and the understanding that He is our Father and He is holy — even though we cannot fully define it, we know it is true.

My Father, You deserve awe, respect and glory. You are the sovereign, majestic One, and even though You are merciful and gracious to me, and “Jesus is not ashamed to be called my brother” I cannot treat you like a ‘buddy’ or address you flippantly as if You are like me. Not can I live according to the desires of my sinful flesh. Your holiness is glorified when Your righteousness is seen in Your obedient and humble children. Grant me the grace to hallow Your name today in all that I do.

READ: Joshua 7:19; Psalm 50:23; John 15:8; Romans 15:5–6; 1 Corinthians 6:20; Philippians 2:9–11; and 2 Thessalonians 3:1. Make a list of specific ways to glorify God. Are some more challenging than others?