Holiness hurts.
December 1st, 2006 by Victor
It’s not always “fun” to be a Christian. Contrary to many popular beliefs, it’s actually not supposed to be that way. Christianity is supposed to be about holiness and God’s glory, not comfort zones and our happiness. True happiness is found in selflessness and hungering for and being filled by the Almighty. But here’s the thing - we aren’t born thinking of others. We don’t innately desire to be holy. We are born selfish and innately desiring to do evil. So the breaking/crucifying/dying of our flesh doesn’t happen with ease.
We hold on to our own desires and long for what will gratify ourselves. It’s easier that way. Perhaps you have battled staying like the world because you fear what would happen if people knew you were different?! And of course there is the challenge of letting go of the things we love–people, places and things. Changing the “way we’ve always done it.”
But then it finally hits us. We don’t care what it takes – we want to live a life that will glorify God. We realize that the Kingdom of God is really coming. The King of the Kingdom died instead of me. The Creator has put together a plan to save me from death. We have sinned and deserve death. The wrath and suffering that fell on Jesus should have fallen on us.
And then there is a shift that begins. The realization that we want to serve God more than ourselves. We want to love God more than ourselves. We want to dwell with God more than the world. Suddenly, we realize we need God, we want Him. A passion begins to burn. This burning in our hearts is finally hot enough to burn off the evil and sin that still remains in our hearts. We are finally willing to sacrifice, regardless of the cost.
Once this happens, we need to seek the LORD on this matter. We need to ask Him to reveal to us practical steps that we need to take to grow in holiness. This is the first step actually. Slowing down enough to stop and pray.
“Heavenly Father, you alone are wise. You are the great God of heaven. You created all things and know my frame especially. You know my thoughts, you know my heart more than I do even. I come to you now and ask you to reveal to me what it is I need to do be holy. What is it that you would have me start, stop, change, continue, do less of, do more of, or whatever it might be? Please speak to me and show me clearly what I need to do to be more like you. Please God. Help me. I can’t do this on my own.”
And then just wait…..be quiet. Let the LORD do His work.
Write down a short list of what the LORD puts on your heart. If you are like me you need to make provisions for the spirit almost in the same way we need to not make provisions for the flesh. Maybe it’s not going to sleep until you have prayed or not eating breakfast until you’ve read your Bible. It might be different steps for each of us, but we can not forget that the goal is God’s glorification through our holy lives.
Without a doubt, it is God’s will for us to be holy (I Peter 1:13-16). Knowing this, you can be confident that God will show you what it is you need to do to be holy. He will show us because we aren’t His without holiness. When we continue to cling to the world we are still part of the world.
II Corinthians 6:14-7:1 - Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, “I WILL DWELL IN THEM AND WALK AMONG THEM; AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE. Therefore,COME OUT FROM THEIR MIDST AND BE SEPARATE,” says the Lord. “AND DO NOT TOUCH WHAT IS UNCLEAN; And I will welcome you. And I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to Me,” Says the Lord Almighty. Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
It isn’t going to be fun at first, but it will be right. You aren’t going to be popular among your friends, but you will be part of a new family. Holiness hurts at first, but then it all makes sense:
Hebrews 12:14 – Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord.
Matthew 5:8 (HCSB) – Blessed are the pure in heart, because they will see God.
Excellent points. The first step is to understand God’s holiness. Then a desire for holiness must begin to catch fire within us. Finally, the painful denial of self begins as we move closer to our Father and our own passion turns into an unquenchable, supernatural, bonfire.
I really like the idea of praying that prayer. It is something I am going to do, so God can reveal to me what exactly I need or not need to do and He can be glorified.
Holiness is acheived through obedience. Praying is in itself an act of obedience and a holy action. Choosing not to lie is a holy action. Not coveting, keeping the sabbath are pleasing and holy actions. The things we know are right and that we are doing from God’s Word are all holy. We need to encourage one another to continue in living holy lives. We do succeed in holiness daily. A righteous man may fall seven times but he gets up every time.
Faithful obedience brings with it the fruit of the spirit. Our old nature may field pain but the new man feels joy. God changes us (gives the increase and the understanding) from the inside out in a persons heart and life. It is a growth without compusion. The truth makes one free. The Masters burden is light. God sent His Word to heal and to deliver.
A balance must be taught on holiness being a practical daily reality. When we pray for our enemies, care for the sick, tithe, say an encouraging word we are holy in our actions during those times and build off them.
Amen Don! Although I don’t think having holiness being a daily reality is a balance - it is the requirement that we should be willing to do anything (cutting off our body parts is the metaphor) to accomplish!