13 Comments to 'Called to Be Holy'
Subscribe to comments with RSS or TrackBack to 'Called to Be Holy'.
:: Trackbacks/Pingbacks ::
No Trackbacks/Pingbacks
Called to Be Holy
Posted By Jennifer
I Corinthians 1:2, NIV To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy, together with those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ–their Lord and ours:
God is speaking to you right now.
“To you, young woman, reading this website:”
“To you, frazzled mom, grabbing a moment of quiet:”
“To you, empty nester, wishing for more activity:”
He’s addressing you as part of the church of God, and what is it that He is saying? He’s saying that you are sanctified in Christ Jesus. All that means is that He is making you holy. He is purifying you. You are holy, because your Lord Jesus Christ is holy, and he died on the cross as an atoning sacrifice for your sins, so that you could stand holy and right before a holy God.
A calling is a purpose. Our purpose here on earth is to allow God to perfect us, to make us whole and perfect. He wants to do it, and He is giving us the opportunity to make it happen, but are we willing? Oswald Chambers, in his My Utmost for His Highest entry dated October 4, says it better than I ever could:
There are times when we do know what God’s purpose is; whether we will let the vision be turned into actual character depends upon us, not upon God. If we prefer to loll on the mount and live in the memory of the vision, we will be of no use actually in the ordinary stuff of which human life is made up. Every bit of our training is in that direction. Learn to thank God for making known His demands.
It’s in that ordinary stuff of life that character is born. Can we see the ordinary as sacred? Or do we only feel holy when we are reading the Word, singing praise choruses, or serving God? I know that if I focus on the everyday as holy, I am much more likely to conduct myself in a manner befitting the title. Holy moms don’t rage. Holy wives don’t pick fights. Holy friends don’t gossip and stir up dissension. Holy daughters sacrifice their own time to serve aging parents. Holy servants do what is needed most, not what will make us look good. Wait, God’s word doesn’t promise me freedom from sin–yet–but he does promise me that he will use all things to help me in my journey to become more like Him.
Romans 8:28-29, NIV And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of His son, that he might be the firstborn amount many brothers.
What vision do you think God has for your life? What opportunities in the ordinary stuff of human life have you taken to let character develop in yourself? What opportunities have you, or are you, missing? Can you agree that God is making His demands known to you? How will you act on them?
Oct 25th, 2006
Wow Jennifer… you’re really making me think… I’m going to have to take some time to consider those questions.
I love what you say here:
“Holy moms don’t rage. Holy wives don’t pick fights. Holy friends don’t gossip and stir up dissension. Holy daughters sacrifice their own time to serve aging parents. Holy servants do what is needed most, not what will make us look good.”
It’s great to break it down like that.
Thanks so much!!!
I agree with Susan - I love who you broke that down!
Such a helpful post - thanks!
Ok - hate to be an echo - but the breakdown really spoke to me AND spotlighted on several areas of my life. Great and insightful post — thanks for stepping on our toes!
As Jesus passed by along by the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew (Mark 1:16)
Our hospice helper gave me a journal she had kept of her husband’s peaceful death. In it she recounts the evidence of Abba’s grace through friends as she feels her own fatigue and observes his journey into a distant land. It is written with Thank yous. Did I ever say Thank you for picking up after the kids on Saturdays, thank you for making us all breakfasts before school, thank you for taking out the garbage, thank you for brushing my hair, thank you for being the other half of me…
Jesus passes by the Sea of Galilee… … He passes by my hospice helper as her husband’s passing is remembered by feeling her blessings. He passes by me now and feeds me with these faith lifts.
Good stuff Jennifer. You are so smart—and so right!
Fantastic post, Jennifer - it really spoke to me. God’s vision for my life is to conform me to the image of His son. This conforming process will be at times painful, at times sweet. I’m amazed at how He uses all aspects of my life - from great trials to little joys and everything in between - to work on me, to shape my character. But I need to be aware, alert to His working in my life. Thanks for this excellent food for thought.
i was just thinking about that this morning…and last night.
about eternity
and what am i bowing to in this life?
what has my heart?
where does my vision lie?
thank you for sharing!
YES! this is something that God has been speaking to my heart this morning…and last night as well!
about purpose and principle.
and where does my heart lie?
and whom am i bowing too?
and why am i here today?
i love it when HE confirms it through many different sources!
THANKS!
Wow, very powerful message, Jennifer. That out of the ordinary stuff is character born.
I have been resisting getting a job for a year now. But lately God has been nudging me in the direction of finding a job! I think it is time for me to step out with what I know and show the world. I know that as a child of Gods I have been way too lazy! Great post!
It’s comforting to me to realize that this process of becoming holy is HIS work in my life. Yes, I need to cooperate but there’s so much more hope for me when I remember that God never leaves his work unfinished. My part is to obey, to get out of the way and allow him to work. Easier said than done. Thanks for the reminder today that this is our calling - to be holy. (Sorry, I know I’m a day late here!)
I think another post said that God wants to conform us into His image and I agree with her. In the daily opportunities of life, I often find that God uses everything in my life as a mirror. It either reflects Him or it doesn’t. When it doesn’t, I’m humbled and am reminded of how sinful I can be. Today, I was reading a post by Heather at Midlife Moments that touched on who we are when no one is around. This reveals our true character. So, reading this and then reading your breakdown of what someone won’t do when they are “holy” brings a lot of food for thought to the table.
Prayer
Most loving and heavenly Father,
I confess that the wages of sin is death but Your gift is eternal life through Jesus Christ Your Son. I thank You for granting me this precious gift of eternal life. Help me to inherit eternal life by stretching out my hand in the love of Christ to my brethren. Fill me with the anointing of the Holy Spirit and bless me with Your divine power. May I always walk in the path of righteousness and trust Your ever loving kindness. Please fulfill the desires of my heart this day and make me glad.
In Jesus’ name I pray.
please send me replay
thanking you
samsonstorng21@yahoo.co.in