Holiness

“Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy’” (1 Peter 1:13-16)

I had the privilege to worship with my daughter and family this past Sunday.  I was impressed by something the pastor said in his communion meditation. He said the communion time was a time for us to align ourselves with Jesus.  In thinking about how my life aligns with my Savior’s I realized my life doesn’t measure up to the life of Jesus.  Jesus said, “Be holy, because I am holy.”  Sometimes I see a little something that might be considered holy. Does reading my Bible count?  Or, maybe giving my offering on Sunday morning?  How about helping my neighbor or being considerate of the other driver? Actually, none of that makes me holy!  I can’t be holy on my own.  Those things are the result of having been made holy.

It is only through the blood of Jesus that I can attain holiness. On the cross He took my sins so I could have His righteousness.  Paul says in Ephesians 1:4-8, “For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.”

So the pastor’s idea of aligning oneself with Jesus takes on new meaning when I consider the cross. It took Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross and his resurrection to make holiness possible for me. He surrendered His will to the Father’s will and I must surrender my will to His will.  In Romans 6:19   we are told to offer our bodies in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness. Being a slave to righteousness requires complete surrender to Jesus who is our righteousness.  “. .  . the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23b).  What a gift!

Communion time is a time to align myself with Jesus by surrendering my will to His. On the other hand, this surrender must be done daily. I am prone to veer off course. It is the cross that brings me back.