June 3 – Radical Abandon (1 Peter 1:13-16)

“Just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.’ “(1 Peter 1:15-16)

IN WORD:
Our personal holiness is not a picky prerequisite handed down by a morally demanding God. It is the means to a fountainhead of blessing. Perhaps we thought it was a necessary inconvenience, something God required in theory, but which we could never fully attain. Perhaps we thought it was all for His benefit and not really for ours. That’s likely a problem for every Christian who straddles the fence between the call to holiness and an indulgence of misdirected desires. When it comes down to it, we don’t really believe that our becoming like Jesus — our sanctification — will really benefit us where we live today.
But we are dreadfully wrong. There is immeasurable blessing for those who will single-mindedly pursue the righteousness of God that is found in Christ. “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:33). “The eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him” (2 Chronicles 16:9). We are offered all sorts of riches in unthinkable abundance, yet we hang on to our withered, sinful natures as if our only security is found there. That’s often the posture of the human flesh when it is threatened by a holy calling, and it’s pitiful.

IN DEED:
Does a deep suspicion of holiness lie beneath your struggle to forsake sinfulness? In faith, do all you can to abandon it. Read of Joseph, who reaped amazing long-term benefits from his commitment to remain pure. Read of Job, who was doubly blessed because of his commitment to maintain his belief in God’s faithfulness. Read of any biblical figure — Old Testament or New — and try to find someone who was all-out faithful to God and yet was not blessed. Yes, that’s a challenge. Accept it, and be encouraged by what you discover.

“The serene beauty of a holy life is the most powerful influence in the world next to the power of God.” -Blaise Pascal-