“Say this to the entire community of Israel: You must be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy.” Leviticus 19:2
“Say this to the entire community of Israel: You must be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy” (Leviticus 19:2)
I cannot have a relationship with a Holy God without first being Holy myself – something I cannot even mentally comprehend without His help. In the wilderness, God created this guide to allow his people to be holy through ways of holy sacrifice. That is why God sent His son. To model this perfect life I strive for, to be all that I fail at daily and, after all that, die the death we [not he] deserve, and rise from that death, victorious. All of this points to the truth, that is: I am a baby. Here is how God deals with me, a difficult individual:
“He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed.” (1 Peter 2:24)
Unfortunately, many times I gloss over the miracle that this truth is. I get arrogant and, like my three year old, I find myself shouting I’m not a baby! I already KNOW THIS! In that moment, I am at my most immature. This miracle of salvation is the cornerstone of my life – temporary AND eternal. How on Earth [and Heaven] could I expect to master anything else if I cannot, daily, marvel at the cost I come at. I understand that my Mother went through such physical pain to give birth to me and I never cease to be in awe of that. I can understand that my Father went through mental and emotional strain to work his whole life to raise me and I never stop trying to honor that in my daily existence. What do I understand about my Heavenly Father’s Love?
Challenge: How can I acknowledge daily, in thankfulness, that I am a saved CHILD of God? How can I, today, admit my “difficult nature” and meditate on His perfect sacrifice?
Hey Emily, Nice…… You reminded me of the good news of Hebrews 10: 10: “We have been made holy thru the sacrifce of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” Amen, hey? At the same time Hebrews 12:14 says “Make every effort to live in peace with all people and to be holy;without holiness no one will see the Lord.” Ok, what’s that all about? A contradiction? No, the first is saying, in effect, It cost you absolutely nothing to be a Christian. That was by grace alone -all the way. In Christ alone we look great – holy. At the same time we are told to BE holy. In other words, it will cost us ourselves, daily, with effort, to love God and our big/little neighbor. Peace and struggle! That’s you, Emily! But that’s a real Christian! God bless you in your messed up, God-pleasing, worship. I join you! With tears of peace and stress I join you!
You speak of vulnerability, and there’s an inner cringe there. But Emily, as Pastor Tom said, this makes you a “real Christian.” God already knows our inner turmoil, and we bring ourselves closer together with our brothers and sisters when we make known in a healthy way the struggle and striving towards holiness that God encourages us all to live out each day. That example, more than just pious words, is what encourages our siblings in God’s family to live a life of worship – because we know that each other is real. You are truly seeking; you are willing to be broken open and mended back together – and God will embrace that and heal you with growth! A man I highly respect says “You either hate changing enough to lose, or you hate losing enough to change.” You are a great example of someone who’s very rarely content with sitting put in her spiritual growth – instead you seek growth because you hate “losing” (i.e. staying farther away from your savior). I praise God for your example!