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The pursuit of holiness - in 2013!


Twice a year we orient new workers into ministry with WEC International during which time we try and communicate the values upon which WEC is built to a degree sufficient for new workers to understand and commit to. Now, of course, these values are aspirational, in the sense that we do not live them out perfectly all of the time ... 

The four values are faith, holiness, sacrifice and fellowship ... I may turn to others values in later posts, but for this post I wanted to focus on holiness. Partly because I have just finished reading some of JC Ryle's notes, which were extremely helpful and partly because it is a topic rarely reached on today and in need of reflection - in my opinion. 

The author of the book of Hebrews exhorts us with a clear word "Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord." Heb 12:14

By 'see' we mean to gaze at with wide-open eyes at something (or someone) amazing. In other words a splendid, awesome vision of glory to behold today as well as a hope for the future to be waited for expectantly. So holiness has both a current and future blessing for those willing to pursue it.

So the question we should ask ourselves is how are we doing in the area of holiness and are we growing as we ought? What better way to start the year - than reflect on these things before the Lord!!! 

JC Ryle gives this overall definition of holiness - "it is the habit of being of one mind with God." He goes on to explain how this might be expressed in the following ways;
  • a shunning of all known sin
  • an obediance to all known commandments
  • a striving to be like Jesus
  • expression of the fruit of the Sprit
  • an exercising of self-control and self-denial for the sake of Christ
  • an exercising of charity, mercy and brotherly kindness
  • the pursuit of purity of heart
  • a awesome fear of God
  • a humble walk before the Lord and men
  • a life of faithfulness
  • spiritual mindedness
Why is this important to pursue holiness? It is important because;
  • scripture commands it
  • it is the fulfilment of purpose for which Christ came into the world
  • it is the evidence if saving faith
  • it is proof to the world of our love for Jesus and that we are His Children
  • it will facilitate us 'doing good' to others
  • it will bring comfort in the here and now
  • it prepares us for eternity
Having laid out some exacting challenges and demonstrated what is required and why,  he then goes on to express the only way in which this is possible ... for all who desire to be holy it is actually quite simple ... begin with Christ, go to Christ and abide in Christ.

Which, personally, brings me back to one of the key factors in my Christian testimony explained here. When apathy strikes and this whole holiness thing is of no interest to me and I stop caring, worse still I am not even bothered that I don't care - it is a sure sign that I have given up on my pursuit of the person, Jesus. What I need is to realise that I have stopped the pursuit of Jesus - thankfully when this realisation comes I can humbly seek a fresh vision of who He is and, once time is taken to restore that vision, all the rest falls into place.

So this brings me to my encouragement for 2013. Each year I seek the Lord for a specific word of encouragement which frames my thoughts for that year. This year as I was praying I had Hebrews 12:1 which, when personalised, reads - let me throw off everything that hinders, and the sin that so easily entangle me ... so that I might run with perseverance the race marked out for me. And let me keep my eyes fixed on Jesus ...

Press on!

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