Being Holy

1 Peter 1:15-16 (NIV)
¹⁵ But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do;
¹⁶ for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy."

Is it possible to be holy? Not on our own. God gives us the Holy Spirit in order that we grow in that direction. Can we be holy like Him? Not on our own. Then what does this mean? How can I not be discouraged by this requirement?

We are called His children, and rightly so because we have been reborn into new life. In relation to God and Jesus, we are infants newly arrived into the body of Christ, into the family of God. For that reason we are holy, plucked out of the world, adopted and set aside by the redeeming work of God. With our decision to put our faith in Him, we are to forgo our worldly, sinful nature and take on the nature of our heavenly Father. He is Holy. We are to strive to be like Him.

The Holy Spirit within guides us in that direction and helps us with that walk. God continues His work making salvation possible. Will I be fully perfect and holy like God here on earth? Not while I reside in this corruptible body. Does that mean I’m off the hook, that I can take it easy and not try? By no means! We are drawn to God. Our spirit is entwined with His. We want to be with Him, to be like Him. It is not a question of complying with a set of rules, but a desire of the heart. It is the desire for abundant life and the peace of God. It is to be of Him and not of this world. He loves us and claims us for His own. We are holy only because He is with us. That is being holy: being with Him.