Chasing Holiness

Peter says, in 1 Peter 4:2, if we will arm ourselves for battle and if we will be willing to suffer to be holy, “You won’t spend the rest of your lives chasing your own desires, but you will be anxious to do the will of God.”  If you are like me, you’ve spent enough time chasing after our sinful desires.  Isn’t it time to be holy?

I have found that if I am to walk in the Spirit, I must turn off the world, open up the Word of God, and pour the Word into my mind…that action leads to the Holy Spirit renewing my mind and that leads to Holy Spirit empowered righteous living.

A part of our prayer life must involve asking the Holy Spirit to reveal unholy desires and actions in our lives.  As He reveals them we must then confess that action as sin.  To confess is to agree with God’s assessment of the action.  We, as created creatures, do not get to decide what is right or wrong…that is our Creators prerogative.  

In 1 Peter 4:3 the Apostle lists culturally acceptable sins but reminds us that while culturally acceptable they are biblically detestable.  Holiness comes when we live holy lives.  There are four simple habits that help me keep in the step with the Spirit.

1. I must spend time in the Word of God.
2. I must learn to pray and listen to the Spirit of God.
3. I must spend time with the people of God.
4. I must learn to make disciples of the Son of God.

When I do those four things I find that my life is more in line with the Holiness of God.  I always have areas to mortify and always have attitudes to adopt, but I place myself in a better position to hear from the King of kings and Lord of lords as I join in the battle for holiness.