The Pursuit of Holiness 1…

Morning!

Raises his cup of tea

Welcome back, everyone! I hope you had a good Easter! It seems to me like a fitting time to consider the pursuit of holiness, as we’ve just come out of Holy Week—the week set aside to celebrate Jesus’ resurrection.  As a reminder, we’ve been talking about what it means to be holy, to be set apart. We’ve said there is that which we are set apart from, and that which we are set apart for.  Today, we’re beginning to think about what it means to pursue holiness—to be active participants in the process of sanctification.

Let’s start with the continuation of our Psalm 119 challenge.

Psalm 119: 153-160

“Consider my affliction and deliver me, for I do not forget Your Law.  Plead my cause and redeem me; revive me according to Your Word.  Salvation is far from the wicked, for they do not seek Your statutes.  Great are Your tender mercies, O LORD; Revive me according to Your judgments.  Many are my persecutors and my enemies, yet I do not turn from Your testimonies.  I see the treacherous and am disgusted, because they do not keep Your Word.  Consider how I love Your precepts; revive me, O LORD, according to Your lovingkindness.  The entirety of Your Word is truth, and every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever.”

When we begin to talk about holiness, we need to begin with honesty. What is our affliction? What do we harbor in our hearts, minds, and actions that is offensive to God?  Now, we don’t need to speak it out loud if we don’t want to—and I might suggest it’s better to keep these conversations between us and God, recorded in our chronicling journals.  What is it that we elevate above God? How do we recognize what God does not approve of? We look to Scripture—just as David does in our passage here.

Holiness begins with knowledge.  For how can we know what to set aside if we do not look to the Word of God to teach us what we should set aside?

Proverbs 21: 2

“Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the hearts.”

Much of the Christian life is spent considering—and actively pursuing—holiness. Part of this process involves deepening our relationship with God. Part of it means changing our behaviors out of love for Jesus. And part of it is discovering new behaviors that honor God—fruits and good works—for faith without works is dead.

So without further ado let’s take a look at some Scripture from Paul.

2 Timothy 2: 1-10

“You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.  And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these things to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.  You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.  No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.  And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.  The hard-working farmer must be the first to partake of the crops.  Consider what I say, and may the Lord give you understanding in all things.  Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according to my gospel, for which I suffer trouble as an evildoer, even to the point of chains; but the Word of God is not chained.  Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.”

Paul is writing to his son in the faith, Timothy, in our passage. He begins by reminding Timothy to be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus—and that’s where I want to begin with all of us today.  As we consider our own paths, as we run the race we’ve been given, I encourage us all: never lose sight of the grace that is in Jesus. We can stand firm and rest assured that Jesus has grace even for the worst of sinners—if we come to Him with a repentant heart and honest words.  Changing habits of thought and behavior is not an easy thing to do. It’s incredibly easy to fall back into our old ways if we aren’t keeping our eyes on Jesus and the ways He has set before us. We are to endure the hardship of our walk as a soldier—even though the weapons of our warfare are not of this world.

Paul continues…

2 Timothy 2: 11-13

“This is a faithful saying: For if we died with Him, we shall also live with Him.  If we endure, we shall also reign with Him.  If we deny Him, He also will deny us.  If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself.”

If we have died with Jesus—if we are believers in the resurrection—then we have died to our old selves and will be resurrected with Him. If our faith endures, if we walk through life with Jesus, if we do not deny Him and keep His Word—if we abide in His love and keep His commandments faithfully—then Jesus walks with us. But if we deny Him, He will also deny us.

So.

Would we say we have died with Jesus?

Have we considered that we are living with Jesus right now?

Do we deny Jesus in thought?

Do we deny Jesus in action?

Have we considered this carefully?

Paul continues…

2 Timothy 2: 14-26

“Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers.  Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth.  But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness.  And their message will spread like cancer.  Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort, who have strayed concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the faith of some.  Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: ‘The Lord knows those who are His,’ and, ‘Let everyone who names the Name of Christ depart from iniquity.’  But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor.  Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.  Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.  But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife.  And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.”

As David says, “I hate vain thoughts, but I love Your Word.” Paul teaches that we are to be diligent to present ourselves approved to God. We are to be workers for God, rightly dividing the Word of Truth.  What Paul means is that we need to know how to read Scripture—and to do so with integrity. Scripture is not about private interpretation or what it means to me. Scripture is God’s Word, and it has intention behind it—God’s intention.  We are to seek what God is saying through Scripture, not try to read into it what we want it to say.

What is one thing believers are set apart for?  Learning how to read, understand and deliver the Word of God.

How are we doing with that?

What is one thing Paul is teaching us we are to set ourselves apart from?

Profane and idle babble.

Now, let’s take a moment to think about those two words.

Profane: (adjective)

- Not concerned with religion or religious purposes: Secular

- Not holy because unconsecrated, impure, or defiled: Unsanctified

- Serving to debase or defile what is holy: Irreverent, Obscene, Vulgar

- Not being among the initiated, not possessing esoteric or expert knowledge (irrelevant to our discussion)

Now comes the hard part.  How much of what we rest our eyes upon in the day would be considered profane by Jesus?  How much of what we listen to is purposed to defile us with unholy thoughts?  How much of what we do is irreverent, obscene and vulgar?

Let’s not forget.

Proverbs 1: 7

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”

Believers are all vessels in the House of God.  What kind of vessel would we consider ourselves?  Are we brining honor to Jesus’ Name or are we an earthen vessel brining shame upon the Name of the Lord?

Believers are all vessels in the house of God. What kind of vessel would we consider ourselves to be? Are we bringing honor to the name of Jesus—or are we earthen vessels bringing shame upon the name of the Lord?

Paul teaches us that we are to pursue righteousness—that we are to pursue faith. Whatever kind of vessel we are, cleansing ourselves of what we can and setting ourselves apart from the idle and profane things we did before we knew Jesus will begin to transform us into vessels of honor.  There is nothing more honorable than pursuing righteousness and faith in humility—receiving the Word of God into our hearts with meekness.

It may be a little counter to what we know. It may be different from what we hear from others. It might even differ from what we hear from other professed believers.  And that is exactly why we ground ourselves in the Word of God for our understanding.

Proverbs 3: 1-10

“My son, do not forget my law, but let your heart keep my commands; for length of days and long life and peace they will add to you.  Let not mercy and truth forsake you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart, and so find favor and high esteem in the sight of God and man.  Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.  Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and depart from evil.  It will be health to your flesh, and strength to your bones.  Honor the LORD with your possessions, and with the first fruits of all your increase; so your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine.”

We are to flee youthful lusts.  Instead, we are to replace them with the pursuit of righteousness, faith, love and peace.

How are we doing with the youthful lusts part?

1 John 5: 21

“Little children, keep yourselves from idols.  Amen.”

Now we took a moment to consider what profane means.  Let’s take a look at what idle means.

Idle: (adjective)

- Not occupied or employed, inactive, not turned to normal or appropriate use, not scheduled to compete

- Lacking worth or basis: vain

- Shiftless, lazy, having no evident lawful means of support

How much of what we say in a day is idle?

How much of what we think in a day is idle?

Ten points for whoever thought of the verse we’re going to next!

Psalm 119: 113-120

“I hate the double-minded, but I love Your Law.  You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in Your Word.  Depart from me, you evildoers, for I will keep the commandments of my God!  Uphold me according to Your Word, that I may live; and do not let me be ashamed of my hope.  Hold me up, and I shall be safe, and I shall observe Your statutes continually.  You reject all those who stray from Your statutes, for their deceit is falsehood.  You put away all the wicked of the earth like dross; therefore I love Your testimonies.  My flesh trembles for fear of You, and I am afraid of Your judgments.”

The King James translation states, “I hate vain thoughts.” Idle thoughts. And so, we have the beginnings of some thoughts on holiness—and on the pursuit of holiness.  Let’s remember to rejoice today! Pray without ceasing! Keep talking to God. You don’t have to force it. You don’t need to repeat things aimlessly. Just remember to keep praying!  A mind that prays is never an idle mind.  And don’t forget to use your journals—to keep track of and record what you’ve done, so that we don’t forget the mighty and wondrous works of the Lord in our lives.

I think that’s a good place to start for the day.