Inspiration

On the Path of Holiness

by Jenny Geary

We know that God is holy.  We sing songs about it, we declare it, but the often forgotten truth is that God also requires holiness of His people.  How can we possibly be holy? We have to accept the sacrifice of Jesus’ blood and prepare to look deeply into His word, not a passing glance but a concentrated gaze. Looking at Leviticus, we see that it links the idea of holiness to everyday life.  The word holy appears more than eighty times in the book.  Jewish children were taught Leviticus as their first school book because the leaders felt the children should first be educated concerning the sanctity of God and the responsibility of each individual to live a holy life. 

To be holy it would stand to reason that we need to understand the word itself. Holy very simply explained means the opposite of the common or secular.

God wants our devotion for Him to guide the way we live.  The Bible is filled with verses that teach us to live a devoted life, focusing on knowing and pleasing God.  Leviticus 26:1-46 explains why we should study and know God’s word.  It tells us that God will bless obedience in our life but He considers unfaithfulness hostility to Him.  We are each accountable for our sin, and God seeks to bring each of us to maturity.  No matter how many times we try, He will not allow us to skip any of the steps in the process.  In fact, He will continue to bring us back to the issues we thought we could skip because in reality each step brings us closer to maturity.

In Deuteronomy 12, God tells us how to live.  If we practice these scriptures our life will be pleasing to him.  We have to begin to grasp the truth that it is our choice and responsibility to live holy lives.  We have to know if we choose an action, we also choose its consequences.  God cannot bless nor prosper disobedience and unfaithfulness.  We have to continue to make more room for God in our lives and thoughts.  The measure of success in the Lord’s eyes is not the outcome of the effort but the obedience of His servant. 

Have you ever talked to someone about a subject and thought, “I used to feel that strongly about that topic but I have come to a more modern (i.e. weaker) stand on that topic over the years.”?  We have to keep our heart and mind focused on God or we will let the world change our convictions hour by hour.  He intends his children to be different from the world in the way we think, act and live.  We need to maintain intensity for living holy lives. If we are truly going to live holy to the Lord and be people of the word, we must daily be sure we are reading the word, fellowshipping with God, obeying the word, and letting the word change us.  If we don’t we will become like Israel in the Bible. They always knew God was able, but they never gave Him a place to work His miracle-working word in their lives.

Joshua 23:11’s command to love God means a constant devotion, developing a relationship with Him, being obedient, and guarding against corruption in every area of our lives.  What is corruption?  It is knowing what God’s word says but telling God your way is better, easier, less painful, and/or less stressful. In essence, you are not submitting to His ways in your life.  You have to know that doing things your own way and not God’s will cause there to be a constant struggle. If you are living this way thinking any day your problem or struggle is going to clear up, you are deceived.   God’s word works, but just knowing God’s word is not enough.  We have to apply it and live it in each area of our lives.

That’s what holiness is.  That is what will separate you from all others.  Just as everything else in God, that which He requires He also offers as a free gift.  Holiness is a gift secured by the shed blood of Jesus, but everyday we choose whether we will walk in His Spirit and word or walk in the ways of the world and its principles. Begin to memorize and meditate on the scriptures presented here so you can become stronger in the One who is your help, guide, comforter and teacher. He is such a gracious God.  Let’s heed the words of Deuteronomy 30:14 and 15. “…the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it. See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction.” And verse 19 tells us plainly, “choose life!”  Indeed, let’s choose a life of holiness.