Reflections: In Christ I am distinct

Holiness allows me the advantage of knowing the difference between the holy and the wicked, so that I can discern the influences behind natural phenomenon and human behavior. 

As such, I can avoid what would harm me and embrace what would benefit me. I can see the “world beyond my world,” where the real issues of life lie and from whence the natural world is trained and administered. I have been made holy, and I belong to those who have been “sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be his holy people.” (1 Cor. 1:2)

As I yield daily to his promptings, God’s holy presence dispels all that is unclean in my life. By Him I am separated and continue to be separated. By Him I am made pure and continue to be made pure. His work is a constant work. It enables me to conduct myself in a manner that is separate from all that is secular and carnal. 

Holy understanding

Holiness enables me to see purpose and meaning in all things. It shows me how and why things and events work together for my benefit and God’s glory. This is different from the understanding that the world has.

There are many great explorers, inventors, artists, musicians, etc. who believed in and served God. Their minds were different because they believed in a holy God who made their minds different. Known as the greatest scientific genius ever, Isaac Newton, for example – inventor of the reflecting telescope, who also discovered calculus, proposed a new theory of light and color, developed three laws of motion, devised the law of universal gravitation, and advanced early modern chemistry – actually spent more time on theology than he did on science, as an auction of his nonscientific writings in 1936 revealed.  

A holy understanding has the power to make my experience understandable. It allows me to make sense of my situation, whether it is dire or delightful. It allows me to break down the complexities of my life into manageable pieces and to navigate its apparent disarray. It allows me to interpret the condition of other people and makes me wise in my expressions of sympathy toward them.

Holy ambitions (motives) 

The unholy eager need for position, eminence or power has been with us from the beginning of time. It was what pushed Adam and Eve to rebel against God, and it was on display in the temptation of Jesus by Satan. But, while this has been a part of mankind’s nature forever, the redeeming work of Christ in me can turn my ambitions into a whole different phenomenon.

In Christ and by the power of Christ’s Spirit in me, my desire to achieve is sanctified, so that my passion to succeed becomes fueled by the zeal of the Lord, and my desire for action is motivated by my love for people. As “Christ’s love compels [me]” (2 Cor. 5:14) I have a holy drive, I have a holy aim, and I have a holy cause.

Holy inclinations

The tendencies of the flesh went something like this: if people were nice to me, I would be nice back, if they were mean to me, I would be mean back. When wronged, I would wrong, when hurt, I would hurt. But, when treated sweetly, then I would be sweet, and when loved, then I would love. These tendencies to respond in the way that I did were conditioned by the unholy state that I was in and the unholy character that I possessed. When enticed by the lust of the flesh, I would yield, when tempted by the lust of the eye, I would succumb, and when pulled by the pride of life, I would give in. Those were my natural and unholy inclinations.

But the tendencies of the holy inclinations now produced by Holy Spirit in me go something like this: if people are nice to me, I will celebrate that I can know the joy of kindness, or if they are mean to me, I will give thanks to God that I can bear it. When wronged, I can still honor the offender, when hurt, I can return healing and mercy, when treated sweetly, I can revel in the sweetness that I have received, and when loved, I can delight in the love that I have been shown.

The tendencies to respond in the way that I do are conditioned by the holy state that I am now in and the holy character that I possess.

When enticed by the lust of the flesh, I can say, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” (Mat. 4:4)

When tempted by the lust of the eye, I can say, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God [who is in me] to the test.’” (Mat. 4:7)

When pulled by the pride of life, I can say, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’” (Mat. 4:10)

These are now my natural and holy inclinations. The disposition of my mind, the tendency of my character, and the propensity of my will – is holy.

Holy desires

The need for gratification is in me because God has put it there. It is not evil in itself. In fact, it was originally created good, and it is normal and natural. However, the method whereby I seek gratification could be evil, or it could be good, depending on the dominant force in operation at any given time. If the force in me is evil, my search for gratification will involve evil means. If the force in me is holy, my search for gratification will involve holy means.

The truth is that God’s holy presence and power is and is to be my impulse. My spring of life will always be in the anticipation of joy and satisfaction that I know in Him. He is my longing, and he is my craving. He satisfies my desire to fly, and He fulfills my passion to love and be loved. He is my longing, and He is my hope. And I love what happens to me when I serve Him!

Holy resolution

I will always act according to my constitution, I will always respond to stimuli according to my design, and I will always live out God’s glorious order in my world according to my resolve. 

For example, if I carry anger or unforgiveness, it will manifest itself instinctively, without me even being conscious of it. Conversely, if I carry grace and forgiveness, it too will manifest itself automatically also, without me even being aware of it, or without me having to put a whole lot of effort into it. A holy resolution will most naturally produce a holy response.

If my make-up is holy, my determinations will also be holy. And if my determinations are holy, I have full confidence that, in any and every situation, I will act according to my holy character and in a holy and appropriate manner. 

Holiness is my state of being. It is what I live in. So, however I am poked or prodded, holiness will come out, because it is who I am. I am, in Christ, holy.