Day 6--Be holy!

Yahweh spoke to Moses and said: Speak to the whole community of Israelites and say: "Be holy, for I, Yahweh your God, am holy."

LEVITICUS 19: 1-2

You must be thinking: "Oh no, she's pulled out Leviticus". Yes, I am afraid it was bound to happen eventually---part of the Bible, you know. 

We've been talking about God's unconditional love for you, and yes, it's a wonderful thing and it radically changes your life. But it doesn't stop there. Because, out of love, God wants you to be free and happy. And a quest for true freedom and happiness is a quest for holiness! We are created in his image and likeness, so He wants us to be holy, just like He is holy.

No, I'm still not talking about obedience. It's not about obedience simply because He wants the best for us--to live life to the fullest-- and He doesn't tell us to do this or that just because He's a tyrant. He knows your heart better than you do, so of course He's going to tell you "do this and that" so that you can satisfy the deepest desires of your heart!!!!

But the devil likes to confuse us and say: "but if you do this instead, you will know good and evil, and thus be like God". The thing is... God doesn't do evil, so how would doing evil turn us into gods?

And He also knows, in His mind-blowing wisdom, that we are flawed and have shortcomings. He knows we are not perfect and that it will be a huge struggle to attempt holiness! But they key word is ATTEMPT---STRIVE, FIGHT, TRY VERY HARD. It's in the trying that He meets us half way (or more like 10% to 90% of the way-- the ninety being God's). If we try with our whole hearts to be holy, and ask Him for his grace to get there, He will provide that grace.

So don't be afraid of holiness!! In this race, God is your number one fan!

It won't be easy, though. You will struggle, the world will mock you and scorn you for being counter-cultural, and there will be people who will leave your life because of it. But whatever the Lord sends you instead is SO. MUCH. BETTER. I promise. I've been there. He might not send it soon, but He will send it. And when you get whatever it is that your heart desired, you will REJOICE. Take me, for example-- I had to move to the other side of the world to encounter the friends God had been promising me for years! And I rejoice.

Remember, good things come to those who wait (in the Lord, might I add).

Jesus, teach me to be holy, just like you are holy.