Be Holy

Read: 1 Peter 1

Now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:15-16

IN WORD

“Holy” is such a religious-sounding word, with connotations of an unattainable level of divine connection and perfection. To many, it sounds oppressive. But is that really what Scripture means? Is holiness the same as sinlessness? No, holiness simply means being set apart for a specific purpose. Because we’re set apart for God, it certainly means becoming like Him and reflecting His goodness. It involves transformation. But it doesn’t mean becoming a separatist who can no longer stoop to interact with the world, work in the marketplace, or spend time with spiritual riffraff. To be holy is to realize that what may be acceptable for some people is not acceptable for you because you are called to a specific mission and can afford no distractions. It’s to live in the set-apartness.

In a sense, we’re already there. We’re set apart because God has called us, adopted us into His family, made us citizens of His Kingdom, and placed us in Christ. He already sees us as clean, forgiven, and free from sin and judgment; there’s nothing to add to the holiness He gives. But Peter’s words aren’t so much about our position in Christ as they are about how we live it out. You’re holy? Then live like it in every area of life. Don’t compartmentalize, as though the Kingdom life might be only your day job or a hobby on the side. Holiness has already been accomplished for us. Living it hasn’t.

So live as one who is designated for something extraordinary. This isn’t a demand to stop being yourself. It’s an invitation to be like God, to be an expression of His nature as you were originally designed to be. Like anyone open to love, He is looking for someone who will share His heartbeat. That’s holiness.

IN DEED

In everything you do, seek God’s heartbeat. That will make you different from the world around you, whether you intend to be or not. That’s holiness, and it fits you for His Kingdom perfectly.

ADDITIONAL READING: 2 Corinthians 6:14–7:1

Holiness is not the laborious acquisition of virtue from without, but the expression of the Christ-life from within.

WILLIAM WAND