I make no claims that this blog post is revolutionary. It’s basic. It’s simple. I hope it’s clear. And I think it matters.
Because holiness matters.
Here’s why I want to fight to be holy today – to stand in the power of God against the schemes of the devil:
- God requires me to be holy (1 Pet 1:15-16). Not “wants” me to be holy. Not “expects” me to be holy. He requires me to be holy.
- Holiness is a witness to the gospel. Regardless of what the world does or approves, we’re to be different. Why should the world hear the gospel if our lives have not been transformed?
- I want to honor the name of Jesus. We cannot carry the name of Christ with integrity if we live like the world does.
- I don’t want the enemy to win. We wrestle not against flesh and flood, but against principalities and powers (Eph 6:12). They really do want to destroy us. I’m not interested in their winning.
- I fear the downhill slope. I know many leaders who’ve fallen, but I haven’t met any who knew up front they were going to fall. The slope toward disaster begins with only one step in the wrong direction.
- I don’t want my wife and family to be disappointed in me. None of us sins in isolation. What we do ultimately affects somebody – most often, those who love us without reservation. I want my wife to live in the security of her husband’s godliness.
- I don’t want the people to whom I minister to be let down. Regardless of who we are, somebody’s watching us. I know I don’t always get there, but I want them to see Christ always in me.
- I want my prayers to be effective. Sin blocks our prayer (Isa 59:1-2). If I’m praying for non-believers to be saved, believers to be victorious, the sick to be healed, etc., I need to make holy choices.
- I want to sleep well tonight. All of us know the difference between a fretful night that’s consumed by guilt and a night of sweet peace that accompanies obedience. I prefer the latter.
- I want to live in the urgency of Christ’s coming or my death. It may be that today is the last day I have; if so, I long for Christ to be pleased with me. We won’t end well, though, unless we choose in His strength to live well today.
What reasons would you add to this list?
I’ve always heard that if we want to know whether we traveling down the narrow road that leads to heaven or traveling down the wide road that says it leads to heaven, but really leads to hell, we should become fruit inspectors. Living a life that continually seeks holiness leads to reassurance that I’m on the right road.
Thanks, Carla.
I’m preaching a sermon series through 1 Peter and today was 1:13-16. Peter talked about the need to think holy because of what Jesus Christ has done for us by including us in that that great salvation. Think about holiness, be sober, self controlled, and to fix our hope on the grace we are to receive at the coming of our Lord. We are to be obedient children and not act like we don’t know the Lord or fit in with the ways of the world. There is nothing wrong with being happy, but holiness is God’s call first.
Also, I fall woefully short in living a holy life each day. So grateful for God’s Holy Spirit power working on the inside of us to transform us continually. Without Him, I would be nothing, enslaved, dying, but with Jesus, thank God, I’m saved.
God is incredibly gracious, isn’t He, David? Thanks for writing. Will pray for you and your preaching series.
How do we attain to holiness?