GodReflection: Six Jesus Markers To Be More Like Him.
For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy” (1 Peter 1:16). You who have been called by God to be his own holy people. He made you holy by means of Christ Jesus, just as he did for all people everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours. (1 Corinthians 1:2)
Holiness! This is a big one. How can I be the mere mortal human that I am and ever claim holiness as a reflection of my walk? The very thought that I could be holy is unimaginable. Why would Jesus set such a marker for my growth?
What if (join me on this) we could make an itemized list, from just the past ten years, of ALL our bad thoughts, the number of times we offended others, our friends, our spouse, and our kids. How about the ungodly words that slipped from our tongues, the good we knew to do but left undone, and the traffic laws we have violated? Then there are the times of secret greed, lust, and the desire to purposely harm others—you get the idea—the list is endless. Our lives are far from being a synonym of Holy.
Wow! That is a dark picture.
We can all thank Father God, Son Jesus, Holy Spirit, for another reality Holiness Is A Marker Of Our Walk. That is because it all changed with the good news that Jesus came to earth in the image of God to announce—Holiness Is Possible—You Can Be Holy!
No, we cannot do it on our own steam. However, when we invite King Jesus to rule our lives and bury our sin in the waters of baptism, we immerge from our watery grave empowered by His Holy Spirit to grow us in holiness. At that point Holiness Becomes A Marker of Our Walk.
In our own minds even though we are committed to follow King Jesus—holiness will always be a challenge. But without him and his Holy Spirit, holiness is impossible.
I have always found great comfort and reassurance when I read the truths recorded by John the apostle. He received this promise directly from Jesus. However, being the human I am, it has always been important to read it often.
Recorded in the first chapter of what we know as John’s first letter written to the churches, I find this message of Jesus dispels various false assumptions and wrong beliefs held by Christians. Listen as he affirms once and for all that we are REALLY Holy.
“But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin. If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness” (1 John 1:7-9).
So back to where this post started. Yes, since we are Adam and Eve’s children we are plagued by the residual sin from the garden fall. Sin is an ever-present condition of our human-walk on earth. But as long as we keep our eyes on Jesus, live in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin; we can be sure Holiness Is A Marker Of Our Walk.
Stay tuned.
Gary J. Sorrells
A GodReflection: Holiness—A Marker of Our Walk.
God Reflection 