Church (3) Holy part 2
| As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy." 1Peter1:14-16 |
Today we look at holiness as a process and we call this sanctification. In Afrikaans the word is "heiligmaking" (holy-making) which is beautifully descriptive of what this is all about.
When we surrender our lives to Christ, He fills us with His Holy Spirit who begins to work in us. Paul talks about the fruit that the Holy Spirit cultivates in our hearts: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-Control. The goal is that our lives slowly but surely become more in-tune with God's nature and God's will. And God is holy.
So, the church is in the process of looking more and more like Jesus. This needs to reflect in the individuals that make up the church and in the way that the church as a gathering of people behaves.
It has practical implications:
- My personal life needs to be guided by Jesus' example of integrity, obedience to the Father and love.
- Our gatherings need to be loving, gracious, and accepting
- Our meetings need to be conducted with kindness and grace.
- Even our buildings need to be open to all (ramps for wheelchairs, changerooms for moms with babies, etc)
- and so on...
When we become more and more like Jesus we are becoming holy.
Holiness isn't a standard as much as it is worship.
And fortunately we don't have to try and do it by ourselves.
Paul, writing to the Philippians, describes it like this: "... confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." (Phil.1:6)
Have a great weekend and use Sunday to thank Jesus who made you Holy and ask the Holy Spirit to help you become more like Jesus.
