Holiness, What Does It Look Like?

This is a short address that is also a group of questions about what God requires, about holiness. We are called to be a holy people, are you - judge for yourself.

What does holiness look like, how can we be mobilised to be holy. At the age of fourteen I committed my life to God as a member of a church. However at the age of sixteen I publically declared my acceptance of Jesus as my Lord and Saviour in front of hundreds of people. At that time I was baptised in the Holy Spirit, such a life changing encounter of God’s Spirit that lasted for three days.

I look back at time with amazement and wonder, the knowing of the presence of God with me in such an impacting and overwhelming way. But today 38 years later having lived as Christian all that time, I realise that at that time I was anything but holy, God however saw fit to be with me, a young man at the start of a journey that continues towards holiness.

There are some things I have learnt about holiness. It has a lot to do with our love for God, but as much to do with how we love and respect others. Something often we in the Christian Church speak about but do not always act upon.

Two things, what is it your God requires about you?

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.

And what does the LORD require of you?

To act justly and to love mercy

and to walk humbly[a] with your God. (Micah 6:8)

Is this a challenge, it should be. Every time I hear or read these words I wonder am I living right enough. I am saved by grace through faith, but am I extending the same grace to others. Have I got a bit self-righteous or am I truly righteous? Is my relationship with God and others what it should be, what should I be like? Incidentally if your relationship with others is not what it should be your relationship with God is not right either, what was it Jesus said, “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” (Matthew 25:40)

James, Jesus’ brother says this!

If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s [woman’s] religion is worthless. Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world. (James 1:26-27)

How are you treating the Fatherless, the widow, the divorced, the homeless, those who are often harassed and struggling in life? Are you extending grace to the least of these, the same grace God has given to you? Are you right with God?