The scriptures teach us that we are called to live a life of holiness, not as an abstract concept but as a concrete reality reflected in our daily choices. It’s a pursuit that requires wisdom, conviction, and a heart anchored in the teachings of Christ. In this article, we aim to explore what holiness looks like in the light of everyday decisions and how the Bible guides us to cultivate such a lifestyle.
Understanding Holiness in a Biblical Context
When we turn our gaze to the pages of the Bible, we find a profound and recurring theme—holiness. The concept of holiness is deeply embedded in the fabric of Christian faith. Central to this idea is the character of God Himself, who is portrayed as utterly holy (Leviticus 19:2). Holiness denotes a perfect and absolute moral purity, a distinction from anything that is sinful or evil.
God’s holiness sets the ultimate standard. And the call for us is not to achieve God’s level of holiness – an impossible task – but to strive toward it in our lives, drawing closer to His purity and righteousness with each choice we make. This pursuit of holiness forms a key part of Christian discipleship.
Holiness is a transformative process. When we speak of pursuing holiness, it involves both an inner and outer transformation (2 Corinthians 7:1). The inner transformation occurs as we allow the Holy Spirit to change our hearts, bringing us into alignment with God’s will. This internal shift subsequently influences our external behavior, leading us to make choices that mirror God’s righteousness.
In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul presents an image of holiness as the result of a renewed mind (Romans 12:1-2). A holy life begins with a change in our mindset and our understanding, recognizing God’s will and choosing to live in accordance with it. This renewal is not a one-time event, but a daily process that involves discernment and commitment.
Crucial to our understanding of holiness is the principle of separation. To be holy is to be set apart. It means to be separated from sinful behaviors, attitudes, and choices (1 Peter 1:14-16). This doesn’t imply physical separation from the world but signifies a distinctness in our conduct, where our choices reflect God’s moral excellence rather than worldly values.
The concept of holiness starts with God’s perfect moral purity and His call for us to strive towards that holiness. It involves a transformative process, beginning internally with the work of the Holy Spirit and subsequently influencing our external behavior. Holiness requires a daily renewal of our minds and a commitment to discern and follow God’s will. Integral to holiness is the principle of separation—not physical, but moral—distinguishing our conduct by Godly standards.
Practical Steps Towards Pursuing Holiness in Daily Choices
When we talk about pursuing holiness, we’re speaking of a journey, a process that unfolds as we make everyday decisions with God’s Word as our guide. Here are some practical steps to help navigate that journey:
- Reflect on God’s Word: The scriptures illuminate our path and equip us to make righteous choices (Psalm 119:105). Make Bible reading and reflection a daily habit. Seek to understand God’s commands, principles, and promises, and let them shape your thoughts, attitudes, and actions.
- Cultivate a Heart of Repentance: Repentance is a turnaround—an intentional shift away from sinful behaviors and towards God’s righteousness (Acts 3:19). When we stumble, swift and sincere repentance helps realign our hearts with God’s will.
- Foster the Fruit of the Spirit: Galatians 5:22-23 describes attributes that the Holy Spirit cultivates in us—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These virtues ought to guide our decisions and shape our interactions with others.
- Exercise Discernment: Making holy choices often involves discerning between good and better, between permissible and beneficial (Hebrews 5:14). This discernment grows as we immerse ourselves in God’s Word and prayer.
- Live in Obedience: Obedience to God’s Word is a concrete expression of our love for Him and our desire to live holy lives (John 14:15). It’s about more than just following rules; it’s about honoring God in all we do.
- Engage in Constant Prayer: Prayer is our lifeline to God. Through it, we express our dependency on Him, seek His guidance, and ask for the strength to make holy choices (1 Thessalonians 5:17).
- Abstain from Sinful Influences: Just as light and darkness cannot coexist, neither can holiness and sin. Abstaining from sinful influences, whether in thought, media consumption, or relationships, allows holiness to flourish (1 Thessalonians 5:22).
Pursuing holiness in everyday choices involves practical steps such as daily reflection on God’s Word, cultivating a heart of repentance, fostering the Fruit of the Spirit, exercising discernment, living in obedience, engaging in constant prayer, and abstaining from sinful influences. These steps encourage us to make decisions that honor God, reflect His righteousness, and draw us closer to His holiness.
Integrating Holiness into Our Personal Relationships
Pursuing holiness is not a solitary endeavor. It reaches into every corner of our lives, not least into our personal relationships. It is within these relationships that our commitment to holiness often meets its most significant challenges and yields its most impactful witness.
Holiness in relationships begins with the recognition that every person is made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). This realization should inform our interactions, leading us to treat others with respect and dignity, even when we disagree with them.
One key area where holiness comes into play in relationships is in the realm of forgiveness. Christ instructs us to forgive others as we have been forgiven by God (Matthew 18:21-22). Holding on to grudges and harboring resentment is incompatible with a life striving towards holiness.
Another area of application is in the sphere of honesty. Truth-telling is a vital component of holy living (Ephesians 4:25). A lie, no matter how small, is a step away from holiness. Therefore, our words and actions should mirror the truth in all our interactions.
Our personal relationships also provide a context for exercising self-control, one of the Fruits of the Spirit mentioned in Galatians 5:23. Temptations abound in relationships, but a commitment to holiness compels us to exercise self-control, resisting the urge to react in anger, impatience, or unkindness.
We also need to be cautious about the influences we allow into our lives through our relationships. Friendships that lead us away from God’s righteousness must be handled with care. This doesn’t mean we sever ties, but it does mean we should be mindful not to let such relationships compromise our pursuit of holiness (1 Corinthians 15:33).
Integrating holiness into our personal relationships involves recognizing every person as God’s image-bearer, practicing forgiveness, being truthful, exercising self-control, and being cautious about influences that could lead us away from God’s righteousness. These practices not only reflect our commitment to holiness but also serve as a testimony to those around us.
Striding Towards God’s Righteousness: The Call to Everyday Holiness
Each day presents us with a myriad of decisions, each offering an opportunity to reflect God’s holiness. From the grand decisions to the seemingly insignificant ones, every choice can be a stride towards embodying the divine righteousness that is central to our Christian faith. The pursuit of holiness, as revealed in the Bible, is not merely a lofty ideal; it’s a practical, transformative journey rooted in daily choices and personal relationships.
To further reflect on this call to holiness, consider these questions:
- How does your daily routine reflect a commitment to holiness?
- How might your personal relationships change if you more consciously pursued holiness?
- In what areas of life do you find it most challenging to make holy choices?
May each choice you make draw you closer to the heart of God, reflecting His holiness more vividly. The path of holiness may be demanding, but it leads to the richest and most fulfilling relationship with God. Stand firm in your faith, and let every decision echo the righteousness of the God you serve.
