You shall be holy, for I am holy. I Peter 1:16
What do you think of when you think of the word “holy”? For a lot of non-believers, and some followers of Christ whose faith may lack conviction, “holy” may be a frightening word. Those people sometimes associate holiness with perfect behavior. They believe they can never attain it, so they consider themselves outsiders to the circle of authentic followers of Christ.
But every authentic believer in Christ is holy. In this scripture Peter was not instructing his listeners that they should strive to achieve behavior above reproach. Peter was quoting what God called the Israelites in Leviticus 11:44. God was saying to His chosen people, and to us, “Be holy (be set apart and consecrated for Me) because I am holy (set apart FOR you and consecrated TO you.)”
When you think of holiness does anyone you know come to mind? Who do you know you would consider a holy person, who is allowing the holiness of God to direct the purpose of their life?
If we are holy (set apart for Him), as God says we are, how do we respond in a way that glorifies God and fulfills our Godly purpose in life? If we are holy, and believe it and pursue it, there are links to holiness that will result in righteous conduct, conscience and character.
First we need to prepare our minds for action. The idea is similar to tightening your belt, cinching yourself up in preparation for a task or a challenge. Our minds, our thoughts, need to be focused on the right mission, and on how to direct our thoughts. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 10:3-5, “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare (our minds) are not of the flesh but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses (things that may distract us from our Godly purpose) (strongholds on our minds).” But when we prepare our minds for action, “We are destroying speculations (When you question God in any way, that’s speculation) and every lofty thing (thoughts our minds conjure up or Satan puts there) raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought (everything that comes into our minds that might distract us from God’s purpose for us) captive to the obedience of Christ. In other words we’re re-wiring
the way we think, to make us ready for action.
Next we need to keep sober in our spirit. We need to avoid being intoxicated by the world. Paul instructs Timothy to “instruct those who are rich in the present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God.” 1 Timothy 6:17.
We live in a lost world that gets drunk on materialism, practices greed, and has replaced God with their own version of the way things ought to be. Listen to Paul’s impassioned plea with Timothy (which could aptly be applied to us as we link ourselves to holiness by keeping sober in spirit), “Oh, Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you, avoiding worldly and empty chatter and the opposing arguments of what is falsely called, ‘knowledge’ — which some have professed and thus gone astray from the faith.” v.20-21.
Next, fix your hope in Grace. In other words, attach your heart completely in His Grace. Fixing your eyes or your mind on something is like a decisive military action. It’s laser focus. You blot out everything else around you but the object of your fixation.
The guards at Buckingham Palace march back and forth in a fixed path with their eyes so fixed that no one has ever been reported to have distracted their gaze from the object on which they fix their eyes. These guards have fixed their gaze with this laser focus 24/7, rain or shine, since 1930. That’s the same way we need to fix on Grace.
Then be fashioned by holiness. Romans 12:1-2 says, “Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to (shaped by) this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is (His purpose for your life), and what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
Dress your life in holiness, obedience, character and holiness. The world is intoxicating the places we live and work and play. When it all falls apart, people will blame the pastors who waffled on the truth. Many pastors in this world are willing to condone that which will ultimately destroy someone just so someone will feel good about themselves. For those pastors who waffle on the truth it’s an “anything goes, make everyone feel comfortable and for goodness sake don’t offend anybody” world.
Conduct yourself in fear (reverence and awe).
Our relationship to Christ is absolutely a key link to what will happen to us regarding our personal holiness. If we’re to link to holiness we must honor our relationship with Christ–who He is and what He’s done for us. This is personal. It is for your sake. In our relationship with Christ you will either understand how to respond to these links and live holy or you won’t.
God’s purpose for your life is to be holy and live holy. Living holy, inside His purpose for you will leave a lasting positive legacy.
Is your thinking right?
Are you sober in spirit?
Are your eyes fixed on Christ? Or something or someone else?
Are they fixed on anything at all?
Do you have a powerful connection point to His purpose for your life?