Why Bother with Holiness?
1 Peter 1:14-16 In the past you did not have the understanding you have now, so you did the evil things you wanted to do. But now you are children of God, so you should obey him and not live the way you did before. Be holy in everything you do, just as God is holy. He is the one who chose you. In the Scriptures God says, “Be holy, because I am holy.”
Being good, doing good, can be hard going. When everyone else is behaving badly – and how often does that happen?! – going against the flow is tough. Is it really worth it? Should you even bother?
Think back to the last time you found yourself swimming against the tide – against social norms, peer group pressure, family conflict – by trying simply to be good and to do good. How did you find it?
Eventually, you get to the point of thinking, “Ah, why bother? I’ll just give up and go with the flow.” Because being different is hard work.
Indeed, that’s what the word holiness means – being set apart or dedicated to God to fulfill His purposes. It’s about being different from the rest of the world in our love, our values and our conduct … because we belong to Him. But if it’s such hard going, why bother?
1 Peter 1:14-16 In the past you did not have the understanding you have now, so you did the evil things you wanted to do. But now you are children of God, so you should obey him and not live the way you did before. Be holy in everything you do, just as God is holy. He is the one who chose you. In the Scriptures God says, “Be holy, because I am holy.”
Why should we bother? Because when you know God, you know better. When you love Him, you’re called to obey Him, to be different, to be set apart … because, make no mistake, He chose you.
And if that’s not enough, here’s the bottom line, direct from God to you: Be holy, because I am holy.
That’s His Word. Fresh … for you … today.
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