euu typedd*:
blog
(Sunday, April 19, 2015-)
+10:49 PM]*
# the relentless pursuit of holiness-
As the title says, but what does it really mean?
i've come to question the meta details in these things.
"what exactly happens when i ask God for grace?"
"will temptation seem smaller?"
"what am i really asking when i say More of Him and less of me?"
"if that is the case, is it really my will acting out or His will enforced on me?"
i've rather been pretty relentless in asking these questions.
maybe i lack understanding, but as with all skills when developed, i want precision.
back to the titular premise: pursuing holiness.
what does it mean?
First, the definition:
What is holiness?
God is holy. and throughout the bible, God uses holiness as a form of separation.
this first occurred in the setting aside of the Sabbath, a day that is holy unto the Lord.
next, we see it in places, set aside for the Lord. such as in Moses' burning bush encounter.
to be holy, is essentially to be set apart for the purposes of God.
with that in mind, pursuing holiness can be equated to the pursuit of being set apart for God.
1. Pursuing God's standard
we know that God is holy. And He commands us to be holy.
As such, when we say we want to pursue holiness, we want to pursue God's standard and not that of the world.
if the world says it is alright to have casual sex before marriage, we disregard them.
if the world says it is ok to lie to save yourself, we disregard them.
for God's standards are way above our own and that of the world.
2. Holiness must be expressed out
we are made holy because of Jesus's death on the cross and His blood covering us, making us righteous in God's eyes.
Holiness is more than just a state of being. It must be seen.
one of the logical fruits of holiness is this: Righteousness.
when we live by God's standards and express these out in our lives, our actions will bear righteousness, blamelessness, above reproach.
3. Holiness cannot be encapsulated
Holiness cannot be compartmentalized into just a few areas of our lives. Holiness must affect the whole being of a person, else it is incomplete.
How could a person be set apart for God when only parts of that person's life are dedicated?
it must overflow into all areas of a person's life!
this will certainly take a lifetime to accomplish.
4. Holiness is initiated by God
Holiness is determined and defined by God.
It has to be initiated by God.
we cannot attain holiness on our strength alone.
we must depend on His guidance to lead us in His ways.
and importantly, we must heed His voice and obey Him.
in essence, it is simply all about pursuing God.
the story ends like this;
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