my thoughts on life.

Just joined today!

called to holiness.

“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. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:13-16

-In my own words, these verses could shape my life : Be ready for anything. Be alert and awake at all times. Put all your hope and trust in God alone, and realize the gift God will give you when You see him. Obey God. Don’t go back to the way you used to live. You were dumb and ignorant then and didn’t know any better – how much better of a life should you be leading know that you have the knowledge you have been given? Be holy in everything you do. God said, “I am holy; you be holy.”

Holiness means “apartness,” “sacredness,” “separateness,” “of God.” We are called to be SET APART from the world. And this verse says, “preparing your minds for action”… not resting, chillin, coasting, easy-living…ACTION. This means work, passion, sacrifice. It says to be “obedient children.” This means to take what we know and APPLY it. I’m tired of people thinking that saying you’re a Christian means anything compared to living like one. Some people think that Christianity is found in the times of being on stage or starting a revival or being a pastor or undershepard or main part in the drama or any position that gets recognition. LIES. Christianity is not based on man’s approval or praise. It is based on living a life that resembles Christ’s love and character. Christ never wanted the spotlight – he only wanted to shine the light of his Father. If that meant that people followed him, then He never took the credit for it – He only praised God more because of it. (“He is never closer to the devil than when he wants credit for what he does” –Billy Graham).

This does NOT say – You, pastor, shall be holy, for I am holy…or You, worship leader, shall be holy, for I am holy…or You, undershepard… You, evangelist…You, published author…You, missionary… It just says YOU. That 2^nd person plural pronoun means all of us. YOU, 11^th grade football player, be holy. YOU, remix leader with no title about to quit, be holy. YOU, masters commission student who is tempted to coast along the year, be holy. YOU, junior high girl who thinks no one loves her, be holy. YOU tech crew member who never gets any recognition or praise for what you do, be holy. We are ALL called to be holy no matter who or what we are. God didn’t pick and choose when he made this declaration; he made it widespread. There is no condition or prerequisite for this call – it’s not just for people going into the ministry or people who want to lead worship…the choice is for everyone. “I am holy; you be holy.”

Why do we have the thought in our brains that pastors or people in authority above us have it easier? We think – “Wow, they are SO good and know so much…God has something special in them.” Yeah, you’re right – God has placed something special in them, but He’s also placed something special in you – and it’s up to YOU to choose to obey that calling…of holiness. Did you ever stop and think that pastors weren’t always pastors? They had to have had a life before preaching every week and ministering every day – really…think about it. They were probably once just like us…but they chose to live a life of holiness to get where they are right now. It’s not like God just says – BOOM…you’re holy now. No! Holiness is a process of hard decisions, tremendous sacrifice, and separateness. How can you change the world by looking just like it? How can a pastor lead a congregation if he is doing the same thing they are? How can I expect to reach my friends if I listen to the same stuff, watch the same things, talk the same way, and live just like them? I can’t. I have to be SET APART and live a holy life.

David did. He was a Shepard before he was a King. The thing about David is that he lived his life as a Shepard as if the position were that of a King. He took pride in his work. He was diligent in everything he did with those sheep, being careful not to leave behind a single one. He was faithful in the smallest things, and THAT is why God gave him such a promising future. Some of us think we are too good for the job of a Shepard and that is why we will never live the life of a King. Did you get that? Some of us think that we are too big, too good, too mature, too old, too young even, too dignified, too spiritual, too whatever to work with the sheep…but you’ll never see the throne if you don’t take care of the sheep. That’s the holy life God has called us to. David took care of the sheep like he was already on the throne – why don’t we live our lives like we are already living the destiny God has called us to?

I want to be a holy woman of God – leading people to Christ with my love and integrity. I want to comfort people who are hurting and live my life solely for God. Why don’t I live like I am that woman now? When will I ever move forward if I continue living the same way I am now? I’ve been called to be holy – set apart…Why do I continue to be the same girl if I want to be a different woman. I need to live like that woman I want to become lives. What would a holy woman of God do in this situation? What would a holy woman of God say? Some of you want to be pastors, missionaries, master commission students, etc. – that’s awesome. Why are you waiting to live the life of a pastor until you become a pastor? That makes zero sense. If you want to become a pastor, live like a pastor would right now. If you want to be the best masters commission student, live like that right now. You will never become what God has called you to be if you wait until you get the title to start living that life. In fact, you probably will never get that title.

We think that getting up on a stage and having a microphone shows holiness…people who get up and talk about God’s word and scream out His message//people around us who talk so loudly about God’s word//people on TBN who broadcast 24/7 on Christ’s love - - being public doesn’t make them holier. Fame does not make a person better or holier or greater than another person. Getting up on stage at a 180 service does not make a person better – we might look at that person more and think what they said was good…I know anytime I am asked to speak on stage, I feel completely unworthy. I do it because God can use me, but still – I feel like I am so not even worthy to be up there because of the caliber that is set with the leadership above me that speak every Wednesday and the lives of holiness they lead. Their communication skills or innovative messages did NOT get them on that stage…their holiness did.

Holiness is not found in speakers, microphones, megaphones, or amplifiers…it is not proclaimed, projected, yelled for everyone to hear, or bragged about. Holiness is found in quiet times…when no one is around…when you could get away with anything you wanted…when you could easily justify your actions…when you think -  ‘this isn’t that bad’…when everyone you’re with is joining in…when it’s dark and no one can see…when you’re entirely alone…when you have to make a sacrifice…when it hurts to do the right thing…when it costs you something. That is holiness. It is when we start living a life like this when God can use us for what we have been made to do…

I will be a holy woman of God – so I will start living like one today. It’s the only way I will get there and receive the promise God has for me.

God said, “I am holy; you be holy.”

This call for holiness is for everyone – how will you respond?