Congratulations on opening up this blog. The word ‘holiness’ is oft putting for many. I think we see it as restrictive and difficult to achieve anyway, so why try? But I think our carnal mind along with strategic satanic lies have robbed us of the blessing that comes from holy living. Holy living is a decision to choose to surrender your life to the Lord and live separate from the world. Our salvation was a free gift that we receive by faith. Holiness is something we choose to partner with the Holy Spirit to accomplish. 1 Peter 1: 15: as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in your conduct, since it is written, You shall be holy, for I am holy.
Our salvation is a gift from our precious Savior, while holiness is almost like a gift we give back to Him. It is something we, as believers, are all asked to do, but it is our choice. A choice not everyone makes, and that is sad. Holy living is a decision to live our lives set apart for His use. It is a decision to put off the things of this world and wear our robes of righteousness in a way that pleases Him. We must change our mindset that walking in holiness means all the things we can’t do–like the old saying ‘you can’t smoke, cuss and chew or go with girls that do’. We know that smoking is bad for you, that cussing substitutes for bad communication skills, and chewing tobacco can give you cancer and walking with those who are like-minded will help you go ahead in the things of the Lord than walking closely with those who don’t care. But it is so much more than those type of restrictions.
One blessing of holiness is it forces us to rely on the power of God. We learn to lean on Him and His ways. Drawing near to Him, in faith, that He is there to help you, not condemn you, is the beginning of enjoying your relationship with Jesus. One of my favorite scriptures is Psalm 16:11. You will show me the path of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever. The closer we draw near to Him, the more we get to enjoy those pleasures. Remember, God encompasses all the fruits of His Spirit. By walking close to Him, we get to partake of those fruits in our lives.
Life with Jesus can be an adventure. During our wedding, the pastor exhorted us from John 2 and the wedding at Cana. Jesus’ mother told the servants, “whatever he tells you to do, do it”. We took that as our life verse and marriage direction. We began by seeking to read the Word and obeying it. When we had decisions to make, we sought the Lord and His will. Following Him and His ways opened doors we never imagined could have happened. Meeting people and experiencing the cultures of Jamaica, England and Ghana plus getting to know varied regions of our own country are results of learning to follow Him and His ways. It started by choosing to live a holy (separate) life unto Him.
His holy ways lead you away from harmful activities and into healthier ones. Learning to forgive, letting go of bitterness and hatred, staying away from addictions all lead to a happier, healthier life. Do not fall for the lie that a holy life is a boring life. It actually opens up opportunities that actually fulfill your purpose in life. When we choose to be “set a part” for Him, it causes us to trust Him more. Trust in the Lord, and do good, dwell in the land and feed on his faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:7 Yes, we turn away from the ‘bad’ things like selfishness, greed and the other works of the flesh but we reap the benefits of the ‘good’ things.
If you find yourself hesitant to try the blessing of holiness, could it possibly be because you have not taken the time to ‘taste and see that the Lord is good’? Feasting on His word and His ways lead us to understand His heart and His purpose in our life. As we learn to walk in this holiness, we become people who glorify Him more. We all want to be around people who are trustworthy, exhibit the fruit of the spirit and share the love of God freely -we can all become those people. Remember, we do it with His grace and His mercy, and of course His power. Let’s make holiness great again!
Father, please help us not be afraid of the word “holy”. Please teach us to trust you as we move toward this amazing calling. Help us in our weak areas, in Jesus Name, amen.
Faith Encounters 