Holy!

Holy!

But like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves in all your conduct [be set apart from the world by your godly character and moral courage]; 1 PETER 1:15 AMP

Wherever you read the word BUT, you need to pay attention to the words that come before it. The people of Peter's day were caught in the uncertainties about the new birth and God's requirement for all who would come to Him. For all who would truly follow Christ, there must be a clear distinction between the old life and the new life in Christ. If there is no time you can point to a different allegiance, different pursuits and priorities, different desires, then maybe you need to check what you claim to have received. Do you have a BUT in your life that marks the change only God can birth and sustain in a life totally given to Him?

And the One who calls is described as HOLY here. He could have been called anything else: nice, simple, Father. But holy is used to underline the importance of what we have been called into. Holiness is God's nature and his expectation from all who claim to follow Him. How do I claim to be a follower of Christ if I do not look like Him in anyway or behave as He does? How do men know I have been with Jesus if nothing about Him is evident on my life? And we all are called; the challenge will be whether we respond to the call or not. A call indicates a peculiar and personal assignment, based on individuality. No 2 people are called into the same kind of assignment at the same place and time, and even if it happens, the call of both will complement each other.  The call may differ, but the demands remain the same: if I will walk with and work for God, I must come to Him on His terms, not mine.

Holiness requires being set apart. It is the natural consequence of my new life. If I am still comfortable around my old life, then maybe I do not understand what is at stake. I am set apart for the glory and praise of the One who called me, and I will one day answer to Him. My daily life becomes the answer to the call of God on my life. For all who will heed the call and approach, are you ready for the demands the call will make on your life? Pretence won't work here; you deal with a God of absolute knowledge. His time of favour is here.