Since when can a human being make themselves holy? Since when have we given ourselves that power? When we start to believe that humans hold their own salvation in their own hands, then we start to wonder if God is really who He says He is.
It's good to have determination, but not if that determination overshadows the deep, holy desire to be one with God. Then, determination is an idol. Even if that determination is to be the holiest person that ever lived.
I've been reading a book called "Atonement Child" by Francine Rivers and there's a character in it named Ethan. Ethan is so obsessed with the idea of being the holiest Christian that he can be that it is almost ridiculous how non-Christian his life is. He is so determined to be godly that he has forgotten the only way he could possibly get there-- through a unity with God, the Almighty. Only closeness and unity with God will truly make us holy.
We see it time and time again: pastors, friends, family so determined to be godly that it's almost embarrassing... And sometimes they are so obssessed with themselves that they can't see the needs of others. They can't see that the needs of others is that they need to see Christ's love through their lives.
And maybe this is you, because I know that it is me. So obssessed with my own salvation that I forget that I cannot be made holy until I have the Father's heart, until I am made one with Him, because that's the only way to be holy. Being with Him and being Him.
God does not want us to be self-willed. He wants us to be God-willed. He wants us to be totally, completely dependent on Him. In a way, He wants our faith in Him to be similar to a child's.
"I am a human, but my daddy's the creator of the universe. And my dad's given me the authority to come against evil things, because my father lives inside of me."
It has nothing to do with us-- it has everything to do with Jesus. We should not strive for man's perception of holiness, we should strive to be one with Jesus.
I will draw near to Him, and He will draw near to me. He will make me holy and blameless, perfect, lacking in nothing.
"In everything he did he had great success, because The Lord was with him." -1 Samuel 18:14
"Humble yourselves to before the Lord, and He will lift you up." -James 4:10
"Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace." -Ephesians 4:3
"'Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain on the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.'" -John 15:4 (Jesus speaking)
That was beautiful, Natalie! Well said, sweetheart :)
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