What’s it mean to be “Holy”??? Pastor Jim submitted the following thoughts on 2/5/22…
Greetings Friends;
PLEASE READ:
“I am the LORD your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy.”
But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”
“Jesus said, “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
Matthew 5:48
Holy? Perfect???
These verses listed above are prone to send many into a time of thinking and reflection and to be sure there have been many artful interpretations on them throughout the years. Yet the Biblical text is clear; God has called His people to live a “holy” life, both in and outside of the Church.
For the Christian, holiness is the fruit or the evidence, if-you-will, of our relationship with Jesus Christ. The “holiness” sets us apart and ensures that we are not “unequally yoked” to this world (2 Corinthians 6:14).
As one author has stated, …
The holiness of a Christian “seems to set us apart, not in the sense of being other-worldly; but rather in the sense of being grasped by the Kingdom vision that formed the center of Jesus’ life and message.”
In other words, our life and ministry of holiness allows us to walk, talk, think, act, have the same values, and share the same vision which Jesus did. In holiness we will strive for those things which Jesus desires. Every aspect of our lives and ministry is to come into conformity to that sacred call of God.
In short, “as we open ourselves to the relationship Jesus offers, we are more and more able to live” our lives and ministry in the Church and to the world from God’s perspective. This is done through prayer, studying the Scriptures, holy conferencing together, worshiping together, visioning together, dreaming together, having fellowship together, and serving together.
Acts 2:42-47 clearly says that the 1st century Christians…
“Devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.
All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people.
And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.“
“I am the LORD your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy.” (Leviticus 11:44).
Shalom,
Pastor Jim
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