On the fourth Thursday of the month in November, many Americans will gather around the table to have a meal with family and friends. For Christians, this is a great opportunity to share something significant with others. One such subject of high significance is your call to holiness as a Christian. Do you know that you are called to be holy as a Christian?
Pursuing holiness is a lifelong pursuit. The command to be holy also comes with a warning in the book of Hebrews.
The New Testament has several commands to pursue holiness but one such command comes from the Author of Hebrews.
"Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord" Hebrews 12: 14
Christians are commanded to pursue peace and holiness. For this post, I will focus on the second command – holiness.
- First, the command. All Christians are to strive in the pursuit of holiness. This is a command to all Christians. How do we know? Because it is written in the plural and as an imperative. The Greek word is διώκετε (pronounced “dio-kay-te”). The word Strive can be translated as pursue, press on, go after, or even persecute. The New Testament uses this word both negatively and positively.
- Negatively, διώκετε is used as persecute, for example, in Mathew 5:10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven“, 1 Corinthians 15:9 “For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God” or Galatians 1:23 “They only were hearing it said, ‘He who used to persecute us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy'”
- Positively, διώκετε is used as seek, pursue or press on in Romans 12:13 “Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality”, Romans 14:19 “So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding” or Philippians 3:14 “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
- So, the command is for all to pursue, strive or put effort into.
- Secondly, notice the object of the command – Holiness!
- The Author says “the holiness”. What kind of holiness does the author have in mind?
- We see a clue about this holiness in verse 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“.
- The holiness that Christians ought to pursue is the holiness of God. God is Holy! Holy means separate. God desires that we pursue the holiness of God so that we be like him. How wonderful! Christians are to be separate from the anything that is unholy, unchaste and ungodly. So, pursuing is going to take a measure of discipline and willingness to be disciplined.
- Thirdly, notice the warning. “Strive for… the holiness without which no one will see the Lord”.
- Without holiness, we will not see God. God is perfect in holiness.
- It is impossible for any human to see God and live. Yet, we are commanded to be holy. How do we achieve a holiness that we don’t have?
- First, look at the achievement of Christ. Look at the Holy One of God. Turn to the Beloved Son of God, God of very God, who took on the likeness of men, and became sin for us in order that we may be counted righteous in God’s sight. Hide under the holiness of Christ.
- Second, because we are hidden in Christ, and have the righteousness of Christ, we pursue the holiness of God by fighting against our sin, putting effort into shedding our “old man”.
How do we pursue holiness? Here is a suggestion in the form of a song. I often sang this song as a child.
Take time to be holy, speak oft with thy Lord;
Abide in Him always, and feed on His Word.
Make friends of God’s children, help those who are weak,
Forgetting in nothing His blessing to seek.
Take time to be holy, the world rushes on;
Spend much time in secret, with Jesus alone.
By looking to Jesus, like Him thou shalt be;
Thy friends in thy conduct His likeness shall see.
Take time to be holy, let Him be thy Guide;
And run not before Him, whatever betide.
In joy or in sorrow, still follow the Lord,
And, looking to Jesus, still trust in His Word.
Take time to be holy, be calm in thy soul,
Each thought and each motive beneath His control.
Thus led by His Spirit to fountains of love,
Thou soon shalt be fitted for service above.
- Have you considered disciplining yourself by doing less of what you have been habituated to that will have no impact on eternity, and, to pray more, read the Bible more and meditate on his Word more?
- What will you do that will count for the profit of your own soul and others around you?
- When is the last time you poured out your heart to God? Do you take time to converse with God? For how long?
Let us take time to be Holy!
“There is no power in the world so irrepressible as the power of personal holiness” John Hyde