So yesterday I talked about forming our own 4H club. A little different from the 4H club that we started back in the 1920s. But one that I think is important for followers of Jesus Christ.
The first quality we talked about yesterday was humility. Our relationship with God must be one that is humble. We need to understand who God is and give him his rightful place. And when we deal with others, it should be done in a spirit of humility. This will draw us closer together in our homes and in our churches, and in our community.
The second quality I want to talk about today is found in First Peter, chapter one, verse 15. It’s the quality of holiness. But as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct.
God wants us to be a holy people. Now let me say, there’s a difference between being holy and holier than thou. We’re not to look down on others. But we are to understand the concept of holiness, which very simply is this. It’s being separated. It’s recognizing that we belong to God.
In Second Peter, chapter three, verse 11. Here’s how Peter describes followers of Jesus. Since all these things are to be dissolved what sort of people ought you to be, in lives of holiness and godliness. He reminds us that we are a holy nation and that this world and everything in it is going to pass away. And in light of that, he says, shouldn’t you be a holy people?
So what is this holiness? Does it mean we never sin? Well, certainly it should be our desire not to sin. But holiness is actually just living our lives in recognition that we belong to God. Our time belongs to him. Our resources belong to Him, our very being belongs to him. We are his and we have been separated to service for him, not because we’re better than others, not because we deserve it. It’s by His grace.
But because we do belong to Him. We need to live out our lives. Every decision we make, every act that we perform, needs to be lived out in the realization that we belong to Him. So let me encourage you today to add this quality to our club. Be ye holy.