Holy to Yahweh
1 Peter 1:13-25

Guest preacher Kelly Larson called us to consider our holiness. As believers, we are holy positionally; we are justified because Jesus’ perfect righteousness is reckoned to us. But we are also commanded to become holy, which is another way of saying, be sanctified. Yahweh’s words, “Be holy as I am holy,” mean that everything you have and all that you are must be consecrated – set apart for, or dedicated to – Him. That’s a tall order.

Kelly shared two motivations to be holy in all our conduct. One comes from the father/child language of the passage. We are made in the image of our Father; we should reflect His character. We are also under His authority and are accountable to Him. A second motivation is the price Christ paid to restore our intimate relationship with our Father in heaven. We were redeemed with the infinitely valuable blood of Jesus. Sit before the Lord today and meditate on these two truths. I suspect they are not news to us. Talk to the Lord about the disconnect between what we know on a Sunday and how we live on a Monday.

Kelly asked a pointed question: Where in your life are you unholy? What sins have become comfortable, too comfortable to give up? What sins have become acceptable, tolerated for so long they seem normal? If I went through my day wearing a turban with a golden plate engraved Holy to Yahweh (like the Jewish high priests*), which of my deeds and words and thoughts would make me cringe? Ask the Lord to show you one thing today that He wants you to change to become more holy. That one thing is the pebble in your shoe Kelly mentioned … something that gets your attention and spurs you to action.

If growing in holiness seems impossible, Kelly points us to Scripture and the Holy Spirit, saying they are “our best companions.” Scripture is the living, incorruptible Word of God, the anvil on which our character is formed, and the Holy Spirit is the blacksmith. But these companions are not overbearing; they wait to be asked. Before the Lord, ask yourself: On how may days in the last week have I spent time in the Bible? Not, reading a verse-of-the-day that pops up on my phone or speedreading through a Bible reading plan, just moving the bookmark. Rather, how regularly do I engage with the Word, asking the Holy Spirit to teach and guide me, and listening? If we walk daily with the companions Scripture and the Holy Spirit, we will grow in holiness.

* Exodus 28:36-38

In Christ,
Carol Gilbert

 * This is an abbreviated version of our weekly prayer blog. For the full version, including congregation prayer requests, subscribe  .