Being Holy is more than a distant aspiration or some lofty goal that only the most pious of Saints can ever hope to reach. We are all called to be Holy. So, what is holiness, and how can we reach a state of Holiness in this fallen world? Well, we can study becoming holy at-nauseam but let’s boil it down to its simplest and most basic form. Let’s let Jesus gather us up in His arms and carry us with Him into holiness.
Where do we go when we need help? Do we go there for our own needs, or in intercession for others? And, are we persistently pleading for assistance? These three questions determine who we perceive as having strength, whether we are in need or empathetic, and how great our love or desire is that has brought us there. Have you ever applied these three simple little questions to your prayers, and if so, what did they reveal to you about Jesus, and your faith?
Where do we receive our sustenance from? What type of food do we depend on most for our nourishment? As humans we are omnivorous which means we eat a variety of foods. Some of us like salads and vegetables, some like chicken, beef, or grain, and others prefer a mixture, but as we grow more mature in our spiritual selves our diet undergoes a dramatic change. We see this in the preferred diet of Jesus Himself… He longs to dine on God’s will and Word.
How do we begin our days? Do we begin them by reading the Bible? Do we pray for forgiveness, and for all the active prayer requests on our list of wants? Do we read a morning devotional? Maybe we write one or add an entry in our prayer journal? All these things are good, but do we take the time to secretly have an intimate conversation with our Heavenly Father? My friends, God wants to hear more than our personal wants and of the needs of others... He desires to be in a personal relationship with us that is both intimate and which deeply reveals us spiritually.
Jesus suffered and died to redeem us from sin, but what is sin really? Is it a rule that we break or more than that? Certainly, it is bad that a rule has been broken, but at its core there is something more, we are rebelling against God by so doing; we are separating ourselves from His will. Sometimes we sin knowingly, but quite often we do so without really understanding what we are doing, and occasionally we do so by simply turning away from doing what is right. So, is there a way to “sin no more?” Let’s consider these questions today.
How do you recognize a person who has given themselves completely over to God’s will? What one trait do you see in such saints that makes them stand out? If you mull this over in your mind, you will come to one conclusion, and one conclusion only... humility. To become a servant you must first humble yourself, to obey God without reservation you must humble yourself, and to become a child of Our Heavenly Father, you must humble yourself before Him. Do you humbly place God before yourself? Are you capable of embodying the absolute humility of Christ?
How much of ourselves have we given to God in love? Do we conform to His will in all things, or only as much as we think it will take to please Him? Jesus was the most amazing and incredible man to have ever lived, and yet He subjected Himself in His entirety to God... His example leads us to understand the true nature of God’s expectation of us as He speaks spiritual truth and demonstrates what it means to be a loving Child of God.
Do we devote our prayer time and the other things in our life to God? If so, then are we giving these things to Him forever, or just until we need them again or it becomes inconvenient for us to do so? Perhaps we don’t understand what devoting something means when taken in this context. What I am referring to here are those things which we commit to God, or Jesus Christ. For many of us it probably begins with a morning time of prayer each day. Have you given Him 15 minutes? 30 minutes? An hour? Have you truly dedicated this time to Him, or just loaned it to Him? If you have made this a promise, have you lived up to that commitment or just prayed when it was convenient?
I have never done this before, but my devotional message yesterday contained a gem that our society today seems to have lost. I received a nice email from Lou who is a wonderful friend, wife to Jack, mother of five daughters, woman that has worked a lifetime alongside her husband, and a saint who is now in her later years of life; I want to share her note with you, along with my reply to her. Here is what she wrote to me regarding my grandfather’s saying (A man is only as good as his word) that I shared briefly with you in yesterday’s devotional titled “The Revelation of Answered Prayer.”
God answers my prayers! Do you believe that statement without reservation? So many people of faith say this but then spend much of their time and effort making excuses for why they don’t see results. If this is you then I ask, “where is the faith in that?” If you truly know God, then you know Him to be absolutely trustworthy and of rock-solid character.
As Christians we claim that Jesus Christ is Lord, but so many of us continue to fret over the world as if it still reigns supreme in our lives... and when we do this, it will reclaim that throne. Are we one of those who says that they trust in God, and then busily works at trying to solve the world’s problems ourselves rather than trusting in Him? Are national and world politics more than casual interests to us? Do we worry ourselves sick over our health and dying despite knowing that we are already dead to this world, and are eternally secure in the next? Well let’s revisit our faith, who we are, and who we are worshiping.
Are you in the habit of beginning each day in prayer, contemplation, and reading scripture? Do you offer this as a time dedicated solely to the Lord, and one in which the two of you can be alone together? Do you rise early and go into your prayer closet where you call His name and wait upon Him? If so you already know how refreshing such a time is spiritually, but if not, I would encourage you to do so... mornings are a special time with the Lord, and one of new beginnings.
You have professed your faith in God, and accepted Jesus Christ as your savior, but now you are asking yourself... “What is the Holy Spirit, will I receive it, and how will I know when I do?” Let’s explore the breath of Jesus and the Spirit He breathes onto us. Let’s ask our Lord to give us His comforter, and teacher to be with us as we journey, and to provide us through His Holy Spirit those things we need along the way.
Today is the beginning of a brand-new year, and as such, let’s contemplate the true source of our joy. I have come to understand that I shouldn’t look to the world for my joy, but to the Lord Jesus Christ instead. I came to this conclusion because the world fails me. However, Jesus, my Redeemer and Savior, never disappoints or abandons me. The joy of Christ was, and is, steadfast and unfailing because it flows from the absolute nature of love in God. Are you walking with Jesus today and if so, do you find this joy to be true in your daily life with Him? Are you seeking His joy and preparing yourself to become more completely united with Him over the course of the coming year? If you are then you will find that His joy isn’t the only source of joy you will receive… you will experience the love and joy of God.
Today is the last day of the year, and typically one in which we take stock of our accomplishments and failures over the past twelve months. This is also a time when we make plans for the coming year and determine the condition of our present life. As you do so, do you have regrets that haunt you, and fears that give you tribulation as you look towards the coming new year? Well, “fear not” because our Lord uses what is past and present to prepare us for what lies ahead, and He helps us face today with a firm faith in His goodness, mercy, and grace.