A Holy Life

Blog Two: Callings

Opening Question: How can you respond to God's goodness with holiness?

Bible Verse: 2 Timothy 1:9

“He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time”

Now on to the blog

When you hear the word ‘holy’ what do you think of? Maybe priests and large cathedrals. Maybe you think of a perfectly worded prayer or a beautifully sung song. You probably think of whatever the “perfect Christian” is in your mind. If we look at scripture, the Pharisees were often seen as holy by the rest of the world. They had power and fancy prayers and they always followed the rules. In reality, the disciples (yes the ones who disobeyed Jesus sometimes, who were the outcasts of society, who were called while fishing) were the holy ones.

I’m here to tell you, perfection and power are not holiness. To be holy simply means to be set apart for a purpose. Being holy means to be called and to act on that calling.

You are set apart and called not by your own doing, but rather by God’s. From your very first breath, God has saved you, called you, and showered mercy and grace upon you. God has already saved you, but it is your choice to respond as a free person with holiness. God has already called you, but it is your choice to respond as the set apart with holiness. God has already shown you grace, but it is your choice to respond as the forgiven with holiness.

You see, we need to view our holiness not as simply a responsibility or a standard of perfection we need to achieve.

Our holiness is a response to the goodness of God and when we act on our holiness, we are praising God.

We are stepping into what he has called us to with gratitude. We are acknowledging that we are set apart because God is.

How each of us steps into our holy life will be different. Because holy lives are set apart and unique. God has a holy life planned for you and you have the privilege to grab hold of that set-apart calling and live into it. Not with perfection and power, but rather with knowledge and trust in the goodness of God.

Prayer:

You are set apart and holy, like no other.

We are broken, sinful, and imperfect.

Yet, you shower us with grace and mercy.

You set us apart and call us to live a holy life.

Today, help us to live as you called us to do.

To live being set apart and stepping into holiness,

Not because of anything we have done, but as a response to your abundant goodness.

Amen.