In our culture, we don't hear the term "holiness" much anymore. Is it because it's begun to fall on deaf ears? Has it lost it's significance in our lives? I tell you this, no matter how our culture receives it, holiness has not run void.
In today's Christian culture, the term "calling to greatness" is often used and is somewhat over-drafted.
It's necessary to know that there is a difference between calling each other into greatness and calling each other to holiness. It's like my friend Robby Smith says, "It's like how all squares are rectangles but not all rectangles are squares." Calling each other to holiness means that we step into greatness, but calling each other to greatness doesn't mean that we step into holiness. The understanding of this holds great power, but the application changes nations.
Greatness can be left up to tricky interpretation, but holiness can't be contested.
"For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness." -1 Thessalonians 4:7
"For I am the LORD who brought you up out of the land of Egypt to be your God. You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy." -Leviticus 11:45
As a people called holy, we are to imitate the Author of holiness himself, Jesus.
You may say, "what's your definition of holiness?" It's not my definition that matters. Look at what Jesus says is holy, imitate Him, and clothe yourselves in His character. Jesus is the unadulterated picture of holiness.
God not only calls us to be holy as His children, but He calls His children to be holy from the start – leading us into our identity – God-breathing, furiously loving priests after His heart. God said through Moses to the nation of Israel, "You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself. Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation." -Exodus 19:4-6
It is His delight to see you as He is – holy.
What's the root of your heart's desire, greatness or holiness?
