Are you in a pursuit after the Holiness of God?
..Not for selfish reasoning, not for any woa-factor, not for the means, yet simply to honor Him.. simply because our loving, gracious Lord deserves our utmost reverence. The way google defines Holy is, ”exalted or worthy of complete devotion as one perfect in goodness and righteousness.”
That is our God, friends. Perfectly and entirely Holy.
I believe that we have become a people to casual with our Holy God. I have heard countless Christians say God would never rebuke us; He is too kind. Amen! He is SO KIND! Yet, I know even on my very best day I need the Lord’s correction. We live in a culture that calls correction and rebuke— hate. Yet, the word of God says in Proverbs 25:12, ”Like an earring of gold and an ornament of fine gold is a wise rebuker to an obedient ear.”
Just the other day I sat in my car sharing my heart to Jesus; I was frustrated; I was angry even. My heart was truly broken over the lack of brokenness I have for my daily sin. Jesus, yes, wiped the slate; He took on every weight. We are no longer slaves to our sins in Christ. There is no condemnation or shame in His Name. But, in that same breath, the Lord has burdened my heart with the realization of how our flesh can certainly bring us into a state of apathy over our sin. Romans 12:2 ”And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
Friends, we need the Lord’s correction. We desperately need Him to renew our minds, or at least I know that I do. Scripture tells us we must prioritize the Lord’s Holiness, or else we are subject to our flesh. Prioritize, as in trying to obtain it? No, because we all fall short. Thank God for His Grace by which we are saved, not of ourselves; it is a gift of God (Ephesian 2:8). A gift that should bring us to prioritize the heart posture of complete surrender daily. Allowing God and His holiness to consume us: our thought patterns, our reactions, our actions.
Psalm 73:26 ”My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion forever.”
I love this verse above; time and time and time again I fail; I fall; my flesh gets the absolute best of me. But when we truly know that He is our Portion, I believe we cannot help but live with a zeal after His Holiness. We become broken over the days when we just were not feeling it, when the Bible was not open, when the praise was not falling from the lips, when the flesh was welcomed in. We become broken over the matters that break His heart. We become a broken people held together by a perfect, holy, loving God.
2 Timothy 4:1-7 ”I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His Kingdom: Preach the Word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all long-suffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth. But you, be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of the Lord’s ministry. For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight. I have finished my course. I have kept the faith.”
Are you fighting the good fight after the Lord’s holiness or giving way to the flesh?
Father, break me, correct me, chisel me. I pray you chisel me away, Lord, until all that is left is YOU. May we be a people zealous for Your Holiness. Thank You for being our Portion.
Your Beloved, Kel
a mere voice. 