8-16-13 “The Holiness Option”
2 Corinthians 7:1
Because we have these promises, dear friends, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that can defile our body or spirit. And let us work toward complete holiness because we fear God.
In John Eldredge’s book, The Utter Relief of Holiness, he believes that all the injustices and crimes against humanity would be solved if people would just choose to be holy. He’s right.
Really, now, think of it - what unspeakable tragedies could have been prevented if holiness had ruled the day? On an intimate scale, you wouldn’t be wrestling with many of the wounds you have, and the companion sins, because you wouldn’t have been wounded in the first place. On a global scale, the Holocaust could have been prevented; 9/11 would have never happened, nor the bloodshed that followed, nor the cost of many valiant lives seeking to end terrorism.
(Eldredge, p. 161)
Choosing holiness means choosing to be like Jesus. And the fact that God gives us his Holy Spirit to make living like Jesus a reality means that it is possible to do. WWJD, right?
John 14:26
But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.
The Holy Spirit teaches and reminds me constantly. I can choose to constantly pay attention.
1 Corinthians 6:9-10 lists sins that we commit which is what separates us from God. Then, by no works of our own, God forgives us from having participated in these sins when we believe in his Son, Jesus. Then, he simply asks us not to do these things anymore. We are not condemned for what we’ve done, we are invited to change what we do.
Some of you were once like that. But you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God (verse 11). Because of Jesus, we don’t have to do those sinful things anymore.
So, I can assertively be holy. I just don’t do that, I just don’t watch this, I just don’t say that, I just don’t participate in this, etc. People do it all the time over their own preferences, why not for God’s preferences? Vegetarians don’t eat meat, Mormons don’t drink caffeine, and selfish people don’t share. I totally have a say in what I do, therefore, I can choose holiness, that is, choose to live like Jesus.
Furthermore, Philippians 2:13 promises this: God is working in you, giving you the desire and the ability to do what pleases him.
I am not on my own left to my own devices to try and be holy. It is totally possible. And the world would be saved a whole lotta heartache if we would all jump on board!
Dear God,
Thank you so much for the option of holiness! Please help me to choose holiness today. I love you and thank you and pray in Jesus’ name, amen.
2 Corinthians 7:1
Because we have these promises, dear friends, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that can defile our body or spirit. And let us work toward complete holiness because we fear God.
In John Eldredge’s book, The Utter Relief of Holiness, he believes that all the injustices and crimes against humanity would be solved if people would just choose to be holy. He’s right.
Really, now, think of it - what unspeakable tragedies could have been prevented if holiness had ruled the day? On an intimate scale, you wouldn’t be wrestling with many of the wounds you have, and the companion sins, because you wouldn’t have been wounded in the first place. On a global scale, the Holocaust could have been prevented; 9/11 would have never happened, nor the bloodshed that followed, nor the cost of many valiant lives seeking to end terrorism.
(Eldredge, p. 161)
Choosing holiness means choosing to be like Jesus. And the fact that God gives us his Holy Spirit to make living like Jesus a reality means that it is possible to do. WWJD, right?
John 14:26
But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.
The Holy Spirit teaches and reminds me constantly. I can choose to constantly pay attention.
1 Corinthians 6:9-10 lists sins that we commit which is what separates us from God. Then, by no works of our own, God forgives us from having participated in these sins when we believe in his Son, Jesus. Then, he simply asks us not to do these things anymore. We are not condemned for what we’ve done, we are invited to change what we do.
Some of you were once like that. But you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God (verse 11). Because of Jesus, we don’t have to do those sinful things anymore.
So, I can assertively be holy. I just don’t do that, I just don’t watch this, I just don’t say that, I just don’t participate in this, etc. People do it all the time over their own preferences, why not for God’s preferences? Vegetarians don’t eat meat, Mormons don’t drink caffeine, and selfish people don’t share. I totally have a say in what I do, therefore, I can choose holiness, that is, choose to live like Jesus.
Furthermore, Philippians 2:13 promises this: God is working in you, giving you the desire and the ability to do what pleases him.
I am not on my own left to my own devices to try and be holy. It is totally possible. And the world would be saved a whole lotta heartache if we would all jump on board!
Dear God,
Thank you so much for the option of holiness! Please help me to choose holiness today. I love you and thank you and pray in Jesus’ name, amen.
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