Be holy for I am holy

God's calling to "be holy for I am holy" sounds impossible and over-the-top. We may think, "how can I ever be as good, righteous and holy as God!?" Impossible, right?!

But might this be a misunderstanding of this command? Note the verse does not say do holy as I do holy. It is addressing our state of being; who we are, not what we do. This is not a focus on rightness of conduct i.e. "living right," though it certainly includes and results in right behavior. 

This involves singleness of focus and devotion i.e. It is to value (treasure) God above all things, having our hearts wholly devoted to him in the same way he is to himself. It's having the ultimate affection of our hearts captured by him and by nothing else. We value (worship) Him above everything. Our devotion to him is distinct or separate (holy) and greater than any other devotion because He is distinctly and immensely more valuable and greater than anything and everything.  

We could even argue that a fair translation would be, "be wholly devoted to me and my honor - glory - in the same way I am wholly devoted to it." And that is simply because he is the most honorable being. For from Him, to Him, and through Him are all things. Without him nothing else is. To Him the glory forever. So be it (amen)!

Or as Christ said if our eye is healthy -- not blurry but clear and focused -- then we are full of light (truth) i.e. right conduct/holiness is the fruit of clearly (truly) seeing God in all his glory and valuing (treasuring) Him accordingly. 

How and when does this occur?

It occurs only when we see the true value/glory of God. The more clearly we see him in all his beauty and glory, the greater our treasuring of Him and affections for Him, and the more we are drawn to him and the harder we pursue him.

Mat 6:21  For where your treasure is (that which you value/treasure most and have the greatest affection for), there your heart (longings/desires) will be also. 22 "The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye (focus) is healthy (clear and on the right thing i.e. that which has true and lasting value), your whole body (everything else about you; your actions, conduct etc) will be full of light, 23 but if your eye (focus) is bad (unclear and on the wrong thing), your whole body (your conduct) will be full of darkness. If then the light (your focus) in you is darkness, how great is the darkness (in your conduct)! 

This verse clearly indicates that the body - by which our actions are carried out - moves as the result of our focus (eyes) being set on either the right or wrong thing. Actions are always the result or fruit of our focus. Our focus is always on what we value most. And what we value most is where our greatest affections and longings lie i.e. we are most affectionate about what we treasure most. In time we are shaped and eventually become more like what we adore most. Our values shape our affections which shape our behavior. 

So our focus is not on right behavior/conduct, it's about right seeing and right valuing; seeing God clearly (with singleness of focus) and truly as he is...as all-loving, wise, good and glorious and most worthy of our highest praise, adoration, devotion and love. We will never do so if our gaze/affection is set on something other than him (including right conduct) i.e. We will never be holy as he is holy by "trying" to be holy. That only creates legalistic, hypocritical Pharisee like behavior. This is a stench in the nostrils of God.

Summary

Holiness is not being perfect in conduct (though it certainly is the cause of our behavior becoming increasingly more perfect) but being perfected in devotion which is the fruit of an increasingly clearer view of his great glory/worth resulting in our treasuring Him above everything else. As our view of God in all his love and glory becomes clearer, our value of God grows as well as our devotion and faithfulness to Him; our behavior becomes more righteous and increasingly reflects the greatness of his worth. 

Pressure to act...good or bad?

Does guilt and shame ever pressure us to act? 

Constantly! Without the love of God filling us, by and through the grace of God, these are always a part of our actions. 

Should we ever act out of guilt and shame? 

Never! At least not if we are in Christ. 

Shift

Is all pressure to act, bad? 

No. We can feel impelled out of fullness to represent God well which is a good pressure (if we can call it that), a pressure from within; one we can embrace and should heed. 

This comes out of a love for God and desire to honor him because he has loved and honored us in Christ.

Conclusion

We act only for one of two reasons; the glory of God or the glory/comfort/relief of self apart from God.

Why we act (motive) is always key to distinguishing good from bad actions; good from bad pressure.

#Guilt #Shame #Love #ThoughtsAboutGod #ThotsAboutGod

Misplaced hope… Unfounded anger

One of our greatest challenges in handling the pain and suffering of this life is we place far too much value on the comforts of this life. In fact we often place ultimate value in them. We long for something in this life that God has not promised and then are surprised when we do not find it. We look for life that is pain and trouble-free when it is not promised. At least not yet. In short we seek the full bliss of heaven on earth now when it is yet to come. 

There is nothing wrong with seeking comfort or pleasure in itself. We were designed for it. The question, however, is a matter of expectation and how or when do we legitimately obtain it. 

Psa 16:11  You make known to me the path of life; in your presence, there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. 

We find legitimate and true pleasure only in and through God. 

We are told that we, (along with this earth) are broken and in bondage. That in this life we will encounter thorns and thistles and ultimately death itself. Yet we are always shocked when our "heaven on earth" is rudely and often interrupted.

We must remember that Christ stepped out of the bliss of His eternal glory and communion with the Father into our broken world of pain. He did this to free us from our brokeness and pain so He could ultimately unit us with him in his new heaven and earth of bliss. This is our true and ultimate hope, not heaven on this present earth of brokenness and bondage. And this ultimate bliss is yet to come. But make no mistake, it is coming - and only because of Christ. 

"Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying:

“Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man, and He will dwell with them.

They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God.

‘He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the former things have passed away.” - Rev 21:1-4

If we find ourselves angry at God for the pain and suffering of this life, it is due to our rebellious attempt to make life work independent of God and our refusal to recognize our dependence on Him for all things and the need to be restored and reunited to him in this life resulting in ultimate freedom from pain in the next life.

"I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. 

In the world you will have tribulation. 

But take heart; I have overcome the world." - Christ. - Joh 16:33  

"For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 

For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. 

Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience." - Rom 8:18-25

But, as it is written, "What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him" - 1Co 2:9  

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also." - John 14:1-3

For a discussion on how we have the kingdom but not yet fully click here

The necessity and fear of trust

The necessity and fear of trust

Trust is a huge and necessary part of everything we do. Why?

1. We are finite. We don't know everything, can't see everything and can't do everything (though most of us try and like to believe we can) so we must move forward trusting others, counting on and depending on them for certain things to happen. 

2. We were never designed to go at life alone i.e. To operate without God first or others.

However, trust is very hard for us because we are damaged goods. Because of our disconnection from the source of love and life we suffered -- and still do -- a deep wound. Our souls are now raw and bleeding. Yet we rarely are conscious of this condition because we try to numb and bury our pain by using Gods gifts to ease it. 

We only become aware when that which we use to cover and ease our pain is ripped away. As a result we have a deep-seated underlining distrust and fear of being harmed again; of reopening the wound - i.e. of not being loved.

All of this is due to our disconnection from and distrust of the Source of life and love - i.e. The root cause of our damage. 

As a result of this disconnection, we feel we are on our own and must ensure our own safety, care and love.

Yet we can't. We must trust someone. The question is who. Is it God or ourselves.

What's really inside?

The true state of the ¹human heart (and condition) is often not evident until everything that we depend on to gain a sense of meaning and value is stripped away.

What surfaces emotionally when you're really cold, really sick, really tired, really hungry, totally alone or in any other state of extended deprivation? 

What if you also find yourself in one (or possibly several) of these circumstances with no hope of relief? What surfaces then? (think of Job)

Whatever it is... fear, anxiety, anger, complaining, whining etc... this brings to the surface who you really are; the real you. Not a flattering picture. But not an uncommon one either.

We all do well when things go well. It's when they go wrong that we find out what we're truly made of, i.e. the true state of our being.

When everything is stripped away, it becomes very clear that we are dependent (our true state of being), very rebellious, and rather miserable (our true condition) creatures, who are often ungrateful.

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¹I am making the distinction between "heart" and "condition" and suggest that "heart" addresses who we really are - i.e. creatures dependent on our Creator - and "condition" with those circumstances we find ourselves in; circumstances that create pain and suffering which bring to the surface what's in our heart. Possibly too fine or unclear a distinction?

Feedback is always welcomed. Nothing I post is final simply because I know much of our (my) heart is hidden from us (me), which in turn, affects our (my) thoughts and ability to see clearly.

willing---> desiring ---> loving

We choose/will what we desire and we desire what we love.

So how does this play out with "free will?" The will is not free in the sense that it is it's own independent agent. We will what we desire i.e. our wills are tied to our desires. And we desire what we love and we love what gives us the greatest sense of meaning, value, purpose etc.

However what if there is something out there that gives a greater sense of meaning than what we now know and are aware of. In fact this "something" gives the greatest sense of meaning/value/purpose possible. It exists objectively, but subjectively to us, it does not. How can we choose such an "object?" We can not and will not. How can we if we don't know it exists. So free will is not our problem. Blindness is. We can not will/choose and pursue that which we can't see and therefore have no knowledge of.  

So we go after that which our senses tell us does the best job of satisfying our need.

But here's a more fundamental question. Why do we need at all? What do we need?

The simple fact of our finiteness requires us to depend on certain things in order to do, know and live etc.

We are not self-sufficient in the absolute sense. Physically alone we must have water, air, food, shelter at a minimum. Beyond these we desire far more.

How about emotionally? Do we need anything? Well, studies show we need love. If infants are not touched and handled in a way that communicates they are cared for, they do not mature properly and can literally die. Curious, isn't it. Why is this? The common theme of everyone who unsuccessfully attempts suicide is life no longer had meaning, purpose or any hope of these and it was simply too unbearably painful to function this way. If I die, hopefully, the pain will stop. This is why simply showing genuine care for someone in this condition can turn them around. It tells them they actually are important after all - to at least you. 

So what is it we need exactly. We need to be valued, important, of worth in the eyes of another. Some try to satisfy this need through self-treatment so to speak... self-love, self-medication if you will...but nothing works completely and sufficiently except a relationship with the Source of life love and all things...God himself.

The humility of God?

Normally when we think of God, humility does not come to mind, does it? 

Is humility a part of God's character? It may be far more then we previously considered. Let's see.

What is interesting about the Spirit of God is the Spirit (always in the feminine gender in OT Hebrew) is equally God along with the Father and the Son.

Yet the Spirit primarily remains behind the scenes, always pointing us to the Father and the Son - and revealing to us the Son and his words. Seemingly the opposite of the Father who is always calling us to recognize the greatness of his glory.

The Spirit is called the Spirit of glory (IPet 4:14) but we are never directly told to glorify the Spirit. The Spirit is always revealing, glorifying, enabling and pointing us to glorify others (the Father and Son). 

The contrast is important and significant. This tells us God is not only all glorious but as the Spirit, is all humble as well. The Holy Spirit is truly multifacited and asks nothing of us (i.e. to humble ourself) that the Spirit (God) doesn't also fully take part in. 

Part of what makes God so great is God - as Spirit - is also so humble and other oriented; not by necessity but by choice. 

We also see this same quality in Christ.

Mat 11:29  Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly (humble, cast down, humiliated - in the original) in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Php 2:6-8 ...who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped (seized, held fast), but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

In addition to the above, it requires greater humility to go from being God to being a man than it does from being rebelliously independent and untrusting creatures to our true status of dependent creatures e.g. going from a penthouse to an outhouse (Christ's humbling) is a far greater step down than moving from a large house to a small one (our humbling). 

The steps God took to bring his love to us were far greater steps of humility than we will ever take - or be able to - for Him. 

Is God self centered? Click here.