When we open ourselves through complete surrender to Jesus and partake in his ministry, then we must remember to keep ourselves holy. We must not grieve the Holy Spirit of God or quench the Spirit of God in any way. “As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy'” (1 Peter 1:14-16). Many believe this verse and many others in the Bible to mean that Christians are to be perfect. What a horrible, ungodly lie that is! We can never attain perfection on our own! The true meaning of holy, in the Biblical sense, is “to be set apart for a special purpose.” As Christians, we are set apart for a special purpose which is to preach Christ and Christ crucified. (See 1 Corinthians 1:23; 1 Corinthians 2:2). Once we believe and identify with Jesus, then our purpose in life becomes a holy one.
How is God set apart from the rest of the world? He is without sin! He is perfect in every way! And He is the Creator of all things. The way we become holy before a Holy God is like this: “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7). And how can Christians be assumed by the world to be perfect when 1 John 1:8 declares, “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us?”
But remember not to be lukewarm! “If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth” (1 John 1:6). We must do away with our former selves, reaching toward perfection. True perfection only comes when we are resurrected in Christ (See 2 Corinthians 5:1-10). Hold true to what you have attained and keeping pressing on. The apostle Paul was a model Christian, yet even he says, “Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own…” (See Philippians 3:12-16). Forget what lies behind you and press forward today, living the life that has been set apart for you!
Devotionals by Joel 