07/11/2024
Have you ever been shopping or at a restaurant and seen an older couple walking together that have the same stride, have the same mannerisms, the same inflections in their speech, and in some strange way even resemble each other? It would be easy to mistake them as brother and sister, but they are in fact husband and wife. This is what years of love and living together does... it joins us in ways that we often can't explain and that are so subtle we barely realize it’s happening. Our faith and holiness should unite us with Christ in much the same way.
“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."”
1 Peter 1:15-16 ESV
Are we holy? God wishes for us to be set apart from the world, to be Christ-like, and this should be the desire of every Christian. Pastor E.M. Bounds recognized this and said...
"This is the aim of all Christian effort. We must therefore constantly and earnestly pray to be made holy." – E.M. Bounds
For those who have been going to church for any length of time, we recognize that there are people who come when the doors open and participate in services and activities, but then leave to fully reenter the world. They put on holiness like a jacket and then take it off again when they walk out of the church. They are flirting and putting on the airs of being faithful but never making a commitment to it.
On the other hand there are those in our church who incorporate holiness in every aspect of their lives. They wear their faith like a wedding ring... it is with them always and we recognize Christ whenever we are with them. I am not talking about being able to quote scripture like a scholar, or to being able to teach, or even preach, incredibly well... These are things you learn. I am talking about those who have internalized their faith and are faithful in ways that separate them from the world... believers who are truly holy. These are the people who walk with Jesus so closely that they begin to resemble Him, and are lost when not with Him.
When we enter into a relationship with Jesus by confessing our belief and love for Him, have been submerged in baptism, and have had our bodies joined with His by consuming the elements of communion, then we have begun a life together that is intended to set us apart from the world. We are meant to be holy. In order to be holy we must be transformed and made different; we must be righteous and Christ-like in all we do. This is more than simply going through the motions; it's not just how we behave at church, or in our daily actions (works), no, it must abide deep inside us by changing our hearts, and who we are.
Our ultimate desire should be to resemble the older couple we spoke of earlier who have been so close that everything about them begins to merge together. We need to have the stride, the mannerisms, the speech, the faith, and the heart of Christ. Our goal is to spend so much time with Jesus that others see us as family... Not just acquaintances or roommates, but like our example of a husband and wife.
What came first with the older couple was the deep love they had for one another, and then the resemblance. That should be true in our relationship with Jesus as well. Trying to act like Him without the relationship is a fraud... an act that doesn't truly change us. It never results in holiness... Perhaps goodness, but not holiness. E.M. Bounds realized this as well. He wrote these words:
"First be, then do. First obtain a holy heart, then live a holy life." – E.M. Bounds
So today let’s take off the jacket and put on the wedding ring of faith and holiness. Let's begin a relationship that will change our very core being to resemble Jesus. Let's suddenly realize that we dress like Christ because we have become like Him... not as a shallow fashion statement meant to fool those around us into believing we are like Him, but like the old couple who does so without having consciously decided to do so.
This morning as we pray let's ask Jesus to enter our lives in a way which will make us holy. Let's confess any of our simple acts of faith and ask Him to lead us into a true and abiding walk of faith. Let's ask Him to make us truly holy... to remove the semblance of holiness and replace it with the true holiness that only God can give.
“You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
Matthew 5:48 ESV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for transforming me to be as Christ is, and to be made truly holy as He is holy by living out my life loving and walking with Him. Thank you Lord for showing me who I truly am when I am pretending to be Christ-like, or easily walking in and out of His presence without longing for Him every second we are apart. Help me to be like the apostles who were lost when Jesus had been crucified, and overjoyed upon His return. Change who I am Father so that I take on the divine family resemblance of your child, and behave with the same mannerisms you exhibit. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you my God and Father who desires that I be holy, and readily distinguishable as you tour son without wearing a name plate, or havening to be announced. I read your Word, and the gospel of Jesus where it talks about abiding in Christ, and He in me just as He abides in you, and you in Him. Change my abode Lord from wherever I have once lived on this earth to the divine and holy address of my new heavenly home with you. On the day of judgement let me resemble Jesus, and you, so closely that you will immediately know who I am, and call me worthy. Recognize me as your child, and see the transformation in me through the holiness I will exude on that day. Welcome me home Father, and let us walk together forevermore… Holy Father and child.
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, and may all who desire holiness say Amen!
“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another, For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.”
2 Corinthians 3:17-18 ESV
“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.””
1 Peter 1:15-16 ESV
Rich Forbes