Grace to Stand Devotionals: “Be Holy”

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Grace to Stand Devotionals: “Be Holy”

Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” 1Pe 1:13-16

“Standing grace means we put some practical theological feet on what we learn from I Peter.  We as God’s children have God’s Word, His commandments, His Spirit and His power to live a life that is pleasing to Him so since we know these things theologically, we can start doing them practically. In other words, we are to live as we are called, enabled and as the offspring of Christ. We are called to be holy, we have been given the ability to “be holy” in all manner of conversation (conduct) so do it. When we look it at from a simplistic viewpoint, it is easy to understand. God says do it, we do it. We cannot excuse ourselves and say we cannot because we have been empowered by the Holy Spirit to do all of those things we are called to do. The Holy Spirit is our teacher, guide and helper and He will not lead us into paths contrary to His Word. Thus, as we “gird up our minds for action” by reading, studying and believing Scripture, we are empowered to put that knowledge to work in our lives.  In his excellent book, “The Church,” Dr. Edmund Clowney says, “The indicative of what God has done for us (and in us) precedes the imperative of what we are called to do for Him.”* That means “be holy” because God is holy, put off the old man and his deeds, and put on the new man “which is created in righteousness and true holiness.” [Eph 4:24] It is, as the late Dr. James Boice has said, we are to “think and act biblically.”  Standing strong in grace means: Don’t do what you use to do but do what you are called to do now as a believer. Don’ t act like an unbeliever, act like the children of your Heavenly Father.__jacy “**

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* Clowney, Edmund P., The Church.  Contours of Christian Theology Series, 1995
** ReformedWomen, Series Devotionals, Grace to Stand Bible Studies, 2003-4