“As He who
called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,
because it is written, ‘Be holy, for I am holy’” (1
Peter 1:15-16)
Two recent newspaper articles were
about very different people, but they had something
interesting in common. The basketball player, Kobe Bryant,
received, as the article stated, “the
expected boos,” but also “surprising
cheers” from the crowd as the new NBA (National
Basketball Association) season began. Bryant has been
accused of sexually assaulting a 19-year old young woman and
is undergoing criminal prosecution in relation to what
happened. It’s amazing, when you think about it, that
someone would be paid millions for playing a child’s game,
but it’s even more so that a man, a newlywed with a
beautiful young wife, would be involved with another woman.
He admitted “adultery” on
national television. More incredible still are the “cheers”
from those who care about Kobe’s ball-playing ability, more
than they regard the kind of man he may be. Even the “boos”
likely come from wrong reasons.
Another interesting article (in the
Associated Press), told of V. Gene Robinson, who was
consecrated as Episcopal Bishop of the State of New
Hampshire (in the United States of America). Bishop
Robinson, who is openly and actively “gay”
(an admitted, practicing homosexual) was “greeted
by a rousing, three-minute standing ovation” from a “crowd
of 4,000 worshippers.” There were some “boos”
(objections) mixed with the cheers, as Assistant Bishop Bena,
of Albany, New York, spoke for “36-opposing
bishops in the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Church of
Canada,” when he said that “Robinson’s
chosen lifestyle (is)
incompatible with Scripture and the teaching of this church.”
Robinson’s supporters are so intent in making a
socio-political “point” about his consecration, that they
fail to even CONSIDER that the issues involved may signal
God’s displeasure with this people, this land. In this and
in the other situation, both the “cheers”
and the “boos” are just
human responses. The character and thoughts of God should
be our concern.
God is utterly holy. The Scripture, “it
is written, ‘Be holy, for I am holy’” (1 Peter 1:16)
is a quote from such places as Leviticus 11:44-45, where we
discover that God is completely different from people like
you and me. He is “holy,”
which is to say He is morally – good! He is not interested
in taking your “stuff” – what you have. He has no hidden
motive of evil in relation to you. He is not thinking
“mean” thoughts about you. He is simply – “holy.”
God is INNOCENT in ways we do not even understand. Human
beings, on the other hand, are SLY in thought, often
thinking one thing, but saying or doing something else.
All of us “fall
short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). We see
things from merely our own perspective, not taking into
account God’s purposes and most have little thought for the
needs of others. Most of the time we do not look to God for
His Direction, but instead look to ourselves or some other
person, when we should be trusting in Him who is holy in all
His ways. SELF-DIRECTION is the real sin of humanity, for
you were “bought at a price”
(1 Corinthians 6:20), bought by the blood of Christ, and you
are not your own.
His intention is that you and I will
become like Him; His very nature. Such a statement is
utterly impossible, even absurd, except that He intends to
place his nature inside us, so that He will do what we
cannot do. Through Jesus, we are “born
again” (John 3:3, 7), which He defines as “born
of the Spirit” (John 3:8). His thoughts become our
thoughts, as His love courses into mortal minds. His heart
becomes our own. We love HIM in return for what He has
done, and we love others, which is to say we no longer want
to USE others, but instead GIVE, even as God has given to
us. We are made clean, not only for ourselves, but also to
show others that they can be made clean as well.
Those who are “born
again” in Jesus Christ, will be tempted by the lures
of this world, for we are all very human. James said, “each
one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and
enticed” (James 1:14). James also said, “the
testing of your faith produces patience” (James
1:3). God knows our weaknesses and He, in Christ Jesus,
will turn our failures into victory. But all too often
people divert attention away from their failures by pointing
out similar shortcomings in other people.
When we read the words, “Be
holy, for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:15-16 & Leviticus
11:44-45) it’s important to recall that we are not “holy”
in and of ourselves. We are, in fact, sinners, saved and
changed by the grace of God, who is “holy” in all His ways. I love C. S. Lewis’ words: “It
is when we notice the dirt that God is most present in us.”
This is not someone else’s “dirt”
that we are to notice, but it is our own. “Holiness” is
akin to honesty and love.
Stephen Brown (Christianity Today,
April 5, 1993, p. 17) quoted F. B. Meyer: “When
we see a brother or sister in sin, there are two things we
do not know: First, we do not know how hard he or she tried
not to sin. And second, we do not know the power of the
forces that assailed him or her. We also do not know what we
would have done in the same circumstances.” We need
to recognize and acknowledge our own shortcomings and apply
God’s patience by gently encouraging others when they fall.
The Hebrew word for “holy”
in Leviticus 11:44-45, carries the idea of being morally
clean. God is CLEAN in all His ways. In Peter’s quote of
Leviticus 11:44-45, he uses the Greek word “hagios,”
which means “set-apart.”
God is set apart from sin, in thought, word and deed. John
the Apostle walked with Jesus Christ, the Son of God, for
three years. In the presence of His disciples (including
John), Jesus said, “He who has seen
Me has seen the Father” (John 14:9). John would have
pondered Jesus’ statement, and in later years he wrote – “God
is love” (1 John 4:8). He is innocent; He is morally
pure, He is God; and here’s the amazing part – He loves you
and me.
God the Father gave everything when He
sacrificed His Son for you. No father wants to see his
beloved son suffer, but God sent His Son Jesus Christ, to
die a terrible death, in order that you might live. It’s
time to trust in God the Son. It’s now when we must give up
our selfish desires and instead let our lives be His. We
can never “be holy” in our
own strength. We are “born again”
in Jesus Christ, not “of
corruptible seed, but incorruptible, through the word of God
which lives and abides forever” (1 Peter 1:23). What
we cannot do – He can, because of His love for you and me.
We love You, Lord, and recognize that
You are HOLY in all Your ways. Thank You for Jesus Christ,
who saves us and brings us to the holiness of God. We
accept You, Lord, and receive Your Spirit. Make us clean
inside. In Jesus Name. Amen.
