It is written: "Be holy, because I am holy."
When I was in high school I played on the varsity basketball team. We would practice for hours each afternoon. We ran sprints, practiced passing drills and shot free throws and lay ups over and over again. When I would get together with my friends to watch basketball we would crowd around the TV to watch Michael Jordan. We would watch, analyze and imitate every move that we could. We tried to jump higher and higher. We would even lower the basketball hoop down to where we could get the feeling we imagined Michael had as he flew through the air.
We are all creatures of imitation. By watching those that we admire we imitate the things they say, the things they do and try our best to BE like them. The older I get the more amazed I am at Jesus example. He was humble, powerful, energetic, reflective, patient, kind, purposeful, gentle, strong and brave just to name a few admirable traits. He told the truth even when it hurt; He expressed anger at things that were not right; He gave of Himself completely for me to have life. The life He lived set Him apart from all others in history; it makes Him holy.
If you are anything like me, you see that great, holy example and say, "I can't..." So you lower the goal to something that is not holy at all, but very average. You maintain status quo rather than BEing like Christ. God didn't say, "Be average because I am average" or "you can't be holy because I am holy." No He raised the hoop to regulation saying, "BE holy because I am holy."
Being doesn't come naturally does it? Our basketball team didn't just walk out on the court for games. We practiced. If we are going to BE holy it is going to take practice and discipline. Prayer, meditation, solitude, humility, memorization, fasting, saying no to sin and yes to good. It is a process that grows and develops. It is a journey that sets us apart from evil, and it makes us look more and more like Jesus. Do you look more like Jesus today than you did last week? What are your new "Jesus moves"? Make 1 Peter 1:16 your mantra for a week. God will make you holy, the more you imitate Him.
We are all creatures of imitation. By watching those that we admire we imitate the things they say, the things they do and try our best to BE like them. The older I get the more amazed I am at Jesus example. He was humble, powerful, energetic, reflective, patient, kind, purposeful, gentle, strong and brave just to name a few admirable traits. He told the truth even when it hurt; He expressed anger at things that were not right; He gave of Himself completely for me to have life. The life He lived set Him apart from all others in history; it makes Him holy.
If you are anything like me, you see that great, holy example and say, "I can't..." So you lower the goal to something that is not holy at all, but very average. You maintain status quo rather than BEing like Christ. God didn't say, "Be average because I am average" or "you can't be holy because I am holy." No He raised the hoop to regulation saying, "BE holy because I am holy."
Being doesn't come naturally does it? Our basketball team didn't just walk out on the court for games. We practiced. If we are going to BE holy it is going to take practice and discipline. Prayer, meditation, solitude, humility, memorization, fasting, saying no to sin and yes to good. It is a process that grows and develops. It is a journey that sets us apart from evil, and it makes us look more and more like Jesus. Do you look more like Jesus today than you did last week? What are your new "Jesus moves"? Make 1 Peter 1:16 your mantra for a week. God will make you holy, the more you imitate Him.
1 comment:
I wonder how often I lower the goal in life. I guess it's usually easier to follow than to lead. Jesus painted the perfect picture though, showing us how to be leaders.
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