A Pause to Ponder God's Word
"Why Be Holy?"

I am sure that every parent can attest to being besieged with "Why?" from there children. There have been countless times that I have given my daughters a directive only to have them respond; "why do I have to do that?" My frustration level many times rose to the level of firing back, "because I said so!" and I probably did just that more times than I am willing to admit.

I can't help but wonder how God must feel. From the very beginning He has called His people to be holy. Peter repeats this directive of God in his first epistle calling Christians to "be holy in all you do for it is written 'Be holy...." (1 Peter 1:13) And our response so often is "why?" If there is one who has the absolute right and authority to respond to our "why" by saying "Because I said so," it is God. Yet in His infinite love and unfathomable grace God answers our question giving us reasons why we are to be holy. Five reasons are found in the verses following the Divine Directive found in First Peter (see 1:13-2:3)

We are to be holy because God is Holy. If God is Holy, which He is, then His people will be holy people. Our holiness is conditioned upon our relationship with Him. We are not holy in any measure separated from Him. But in Christ we are made and are being made holy.

We are to be holy because God's commands us to be. His commands are just and righteous. They are not burdensome or enslaving. They are life giving and liberating. They define how God's people live and act abiding in His grace. Holiness involves loving obedience.

We are to be holy because we have been born again, purified, made new in Christ Jesus. We are no longer the same and therefore we live different. Here is where the key word "be" is so important. We must be holy in order to live holy. The verse directs us to "be holy in all you do." This is impossible a part from being made holy. We cannot live what we are not. Outward living reveals inward reality. Therefore, born anew, made new, purified people will be and live accordingly!

We are to be holy because it is the standard by which we will be judged. Verse 17 clearly points this out. Do not confuse holiness with absolute imperfection. We are not righteous through our efforts and work. We are made holy and righteous through Christ. But this does not free us from the responsibility to live responsibly by His grace. Not does it negate judgment. We take comfort in the fact the God Himself is our Judge and he Judges "impartially." His Judgment is pure, perfect and just according to the standard of Holy Love; which He Himself is.

God could have said, "because I said so." But He has graciously revealed the why. We are left with no excuse. He has called us. He has provided in full. Holiness is His will, desire, and plan for His people. Therefore, let us enter in and "be holy."

Keep Close To Jesus
Pastor Gerry


A Pause To Ponder God's Word is written and distributed by Gerald Whetstone, Ordained Elder and teacher in the Church of the Nazarene. These devotionals may be transmitted, duplicated, used in part or in entirety without permission for nonprofit purposes only. Responses welcome. To Subscribe Click Here.
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