A Pause to Ponder God's Word
"Live Holy; How?"
 Have you ever been ask to do something that you couldn't do? It is a very frustrating experience. No matter how emphatically or authoritatively it is told to you, you just do not have the ability to accomplish the task. Some may experience this same feeling hearing God's command to be holy. Some Christians get frustrated and feel like throwing up their arms in dismay proclaiming, "I can't do it!" Take heart beloved! God would not ask us to do anything that He will not enable us to do!

 In 1 Peter 1:13-2:3 we find the why's and how's of being and living holy. Through Christ we are made new, and purified. We could never live what we are not and since we cannot make ourselves holy God graciously makes us holy. Though we cannot do what God does, we must understand that God will not do what He has told us to do. Our life in Christ is a participatory life. We cannot do anything except by His grace and Spirit. Nevertheless, we must be responsible beings who draw upon His grace doing what He commands. We can live holy loves by the power of His indwelling Spirit. As Paul told young Timothy, "God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power, love and self-discipline." (2 Timothy 1:7)

 How do we live holy? We live holy by living a life of love. (1:22) This is the essence of holiness, to love the Lord our God will all our hearts, souls, minds, and strength and our neighbors as ourselves. Love is the very fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22). This is agape love - divine, self-giving love. It is loving as God in Christ loved us, according to the pattern revealed in His Word. Jesus said that our love for one another would be how the world would know we are His disciples. (John 13:35)

We live holy by being a person of God's Word. (1:25 & 2:2) Peter calls God's Word "pure spiritual milk." It is the food for our spirits, which nourishes us so that we can "grow up in our salvation." The Christian life is not stagnant, but dynamic and growing.  A Christian cannot live without God's Word any more than we can live without food and water. And just as we must eat responsibly, so we must read, study, hear, and obey God's Word. The Psalmist announces, "Your Word I have hidden in my heart that I might not sin against You." (Psalm 119:11) So it must be with all of us!

 We live holy by being self-controlled and ridding ourselves of anything that is contrary to God or that hinders us on the way. (1:13 & 2:1) Self-discipline is essential. It is possible because of God's abiding Spirit. Contrary to popular belief, it is possible to control one’s desires and actions. God will not rip things out of our lives. He directs and enables us to rid ourselves of all that is contrary to the way of holiness. We draw upon His grace to change our appetites so that we crave the things of God. We adjust our schedules being sure that there is ample time for applying and practicing Christian disciplines. Holy living is far more about doing than "don't do." Through grace empowered self-discipline our love abounds more and more in grace and knowledge of our Lord. As these abound in our lives, the things of the world grow ever more dim in the luster of God's love and grace.

 Rejoice beloved! God has called, made, and empowered us to be and live holy! Let us settle for nothing less than His will! Enter in and be holy! Here alone is where abundant life is fully experienced and enjoyed!

Keep Close To Jesus
Pastor Gerry


A Pause To Ponder God's Word is written and distributed by Gerald Whetstone, Ordained Elder and teacher in the Church of the Nazarene. These devotionals may be transmitted, duplicated, used in part or in entirety without permission for nonprofit purposes only. Responses welcome. To Subscribe Click Here.
Return to Devotional Index