“Called to Be Holy”

I deleted a Facebook page this morning because it was toilet humor, and that is not my calling, but rather is an offense to the Holy God, whom I serve.

1 Peter 1:13 Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” 17 And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, 18 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. 20 He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you 21 who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.  22 Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, 23 since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God.”

Romans 14:17 (ESV) The kingdom I abide in is not meat and drink, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

What does it mean to be holy and righteous?  Choosing the will of God daily is primarily a choice to act in a sanctified manner during the day.  There is a signpost.

1 Thessalonians 4:3  AMP For this is the will of God, that you be sanctified [separated and set apart from sin]: that you abstain and back away from sexual immorality.

Then to verbally by mental assent choose the will of God and not follow the signpost is hypocrisy and self delusion which will lead to a destination outside of God’s will. Will God allow that? Yes! He will warn, suggest a return to the right road, set off alarm bells – but it will be up to me to make the u-turn back to holiness and sanctification. It will be insufficient to say “Well, the blood of Christ cleanses me from all sin.” and neglect the condition in the same verse of walking in the light.  

1 John 1:7 (ESV)  7 “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.”

By choosing to refuse the path of sanctification and drive off into darkness the light recedes behind and the path leads into a dry gully outside the will of God. Hopefully the u-turn comes before the place of weeping and mashing of teeth.