It was my childhood faith pulling me into that little Arkansas church. The hand clapping was weird, but a welcome weird to a spiritually starved, mentally battered twenty-six year old.
The people there were comfortable with God and weren’t afraid to talk about him. The Father. The Son. The Holy Spirit. They not only knew him on a first name basis, they aimed to be like Jesus.
That was my first glimpse of down-to-earth holiness. It dawned bright in the light on those sweet southern faces. It grew skin. It was touchable and huggable. And I wanted it. I hungered for peace to get over my past, strength to get through my present, and hope to get moving on a path with purpose. That’s when “Just as I Am” wooed me from the pew and I made the best decision of my life. To ask Jesus to save me and guide my life.
By spending time with other seekers, the Sunday messages, and my own Bible reading, holiness—a weird-yet-wonderful concept—became more real to me. It floated down to earth, desirable and doable. Why wouldn’t it be? God calls us to it.
“As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do.” Peter, a once reckless and fearful disciple, found confidence in his Christ identity. He challenges us to strip ourselves of sin, our moral impurity. He quotes Moses who quotes God, “Be holy, because I am holy.”
Whoa. Wait a minute. So, I have to be perfect? No and yes. Not perfect in the sense we never make a mistake. It’s a heart perfection. God sees a heart that is set, devoted to knowing better and being better.
As a brand new believer, I soaked in God’s Word. In Galatians 5, I read that the Holy Spirit produces fruit in our lives: “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!”
There were options ~ Holy options ~ to living a defeated life. I decided to go after each one and become a lifelong learner.
Ephesians 4:21-24 challenges us, “Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from Him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.”
Our call is clear. Do you want to live out this calling and become a lifelong student, a disciple of Jesus? Hebrews 1:3 tells us he is the “exact representation of [God’s] being.” To know Jesus is to know the Father. To know Jesus is to know the Holy Spirit.
We don’t have to let sin and shame and unhealthy self-talk dictate our thoughts and attitudes. Our new nature defines us. The more we seek right living, the more peace, joy, and freedom we find in our true selves.
Holiness, once a mystery to me, is the gift that grows us into our God-given identity.
Are you ready to join me and wholly surrender to a holy pursuit? It’s a daily, conscious commitment. We die to truly live. Die? That sounds a tad dramatic. Perhaps, we’ll dig into that next time.
Grace and courage for your journey, my friend.
Photo from www.Pixabay.com
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