Being Holy

   “14 So you must live as God’s obedient children.
… You didn’t know any better then. 15 But now you must be holy
in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy.
16 For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.”
1 Peter 1:14,15,16 NLT

When we read in God’s Word that we must be holy, it’s easy to think that we never could be.  But both the Old Testament and the New Testament have clear statements that we be holy.  And the Lord would never ask us to be something that he knew was impossible.

The word holiness indicates separation from all that is sinful, impure or morally imperfect.  We are declared holy, set apart for God, once we are saved and cleansed in the blood of Jesus Christ.  At that moment, when the Holy Spirit comes to live in us, we become the temple of God.  From then on, it is not a question of becoming holy, but staying holy.

Most children look and act like their parents, so we can know to which parents they belong.  The children don’t have to work hard to look like their parents.  In a similar way, by simply hanging out with Jesus and his Word, and living our lives receiving his love and obeying him, we start to become like him. The world should recognize that we are set apart, that we belong to him.

As adopted children of God, our gratitude and love motivates us to desire to please and obey him.  So, we choose to keep our spiritual eyes focused on Jesus, becoming more like him.  Jesus, our Savior and Lord, is holy, so we choose to become set apart for him.  We choose to be holy.

Dear friends, may you believe that you are chosen and set apart for God.  May the Holy Spirit stir in your hearts the very desires of the Father and give you the power to become increasingly more like Jesus.  May you be filled with his love and joy as you choose to obey him and bring him glory.  Amen.

Mary Sumner ~ July 11, 2025