1 Thessalonians 4:7-8
"For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness. Therefore he who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who has also given us His Holy Spirit."
As followers of Jesus Christ, our lives are defined not by the uncleanness of the world, but by the perfect holiness which is God's alone. While we're people of this world, with all our failures, worries, and difficulties, we're also no longer those who are unclean, for by the Spirit's touch, we are born again into the holiness of Christ.
Even as sinners, we are declared holy by God's word. Our salvation has begun, surely to be finished at the returning of the Lord, as even our bodies will be fully changed then to live in God's holiness. So while we are not yet what we will become, God has begun our transformation to holiness and will not stop until we are made into the image of Christ.
Still, our Lord desires his disciples to pursue his holiness in our lives with all our hearts, relying upon the Spirit's presence to overcome sin's deceptive yearnings. Of course, overcoming sin is easier said than done, even for those who know the power of Christ.
But still, we can grow in our holiness over time, not simply as our age grows older each year, but as we prove the trustworthiness of faith in Christ. As we obey the word, discover a heart for worship, and learn of the unbounded love of our Savior, we can't help but desire more and more to live holy lives before our God. This becomes our motivation, and with the Spirit in us, we are empowered to pursue this life.
God doesn't call us to holiness simply for our own sakes, though there is much advantage in following the Lord, with much of life's problems having sin at their root. Instead, our holiness honors our God and serves as a witness to others who need the Lord.
We are to be holy for our God, and with the Spirit's touch upon us, this holy life is possible.
LORD JESUS
Lord, I thank you for the Spirit in us, bringing about a holiness which reflects our God. May I be one who intently looks to your word, seeking you in all things, so that I may live a holy life before you and others. Amen.
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