John 6:66-69 (ESV)
66 After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him.
67 So Jesus said to the Twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?”
68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life,
69 and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.”
66 After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him.
67 So Jesus said to the Twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?”
68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life,
69 and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.”
Romans 12:1 (ESV)
1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
Ephesians 1:4 (ESV)
4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love
4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love
Today, officially in the church calendar, begins "holy week". A commemoration of the last week of Jesus' life, and the beginning of the end of Lent.
Today is Palm Sunday because it was Sunday that Jesus road into Jerusalem on the donkey in triumphal procession as the people cried out Hosanna, and they laid the palm branches on the road - an act of honor for Kings and Military heroes who visited a city.
Needless to say, it was the highlight of the week for Jesus' popularity, and it would be short lived, as the leaders of the Jews sought ways to accuse him and discredit him in front of the people - eventually leading to his arrest, trials, crucifixion.
So, how does it all fit...holy week...called to be holy...offering ourselves as living sacrifices that are holy and acceptable to God.
We probably all have some idea of what "holy" might look like, and perhaps have even formed the opinion that "it's impossible, so forget it".
To be holy...well, that is someone who is so weird, separated from the world's reality, disciplined, elite, probably severe in turning away from everything....everything good too? Is that what we think?
Think about this: In order for a Holy God to make us in His image He had to impart his Holy character to us. We are Holy to Him.
Think about it this way: To be Holy, is to be Wholly His...i.e., you cannot be a Whole person without being Holy.
From the beginning God has sought to shape human life along a certain line. The intended shape is best seen in Jesus - the human person that is God's son. The work of God is to restore us to that image that we were intended to be created for.
Towards the end of the New Testament, the writer of Hebrews sums up the process for us:
Hebrews 12:7-15 (ESV)
7 It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline?
8 If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.
9 Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live?
10 For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness.
11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
12 Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees,
13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed.
14 Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.
15 See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled;
7 It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline?
8 If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.
9 Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live?
10 For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness.
11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
12 Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees,
13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed.
14 Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.
15 See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled;
Follow it closely....God is at work in us, working with us and through us, to share in His holy character (whatever that might look like); therefore we can and must choose, so that the broken things might be healed (vs 12-13). Discipline isn't the purpose, it's the means...the Purpose is Restoration!
Holy week? Sure
Holy Life.... Priceless
Peace
Comments