God’s demand for holiness – Part 2

To be sanctified, we must consecrate ourselves unto the Lord. God commands believers to be separate from unbelievers in the areas of business, marriage, friendship, etc. He commands us to abstain from worldly practices. Believers should not be in league with non-believers. We must cut off everything that can decrease or destroy holiness, and lay everything on the altar of consecration unto the Lord. Therefore, “let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”

The Lord wants us to be so consecrated unto Him that we will not compromise with the people of the world. He wants our devotion and consecration to Him to be thorough, total, unrivaled and perpetual. He wants it to be such that nothing can take away from us.

Consecration means offering ourselves, our lives, our ambition, etc., to God, not only for today but forever. Consecration brings into us the consciousness of God’s presence. It makes us to live in full consciousness of God’s watchful eyes. It makes us to live in the consciousness that the Lord sees everything we think, say and do, whether in the secret or in the open, everyday of our lives. This knowledge makes us to commit ourselves to doing His will at all times. Christ-like holiness is practical, not a theological thing.

God demands that whatever condition we find ourselves in life, whatever privileges we enjoy, we should remain consistent in holiness. Answers to our prayers will only come as we remain holy and righteous for the Lord. Men, as well as women are called to live a consistent holy life in the sight of God: “the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands (1 Peter 3:5).

Christian women are not supposed to be nosy, backbiting, nagging or noisy. Rather, they are commanded to be meek, quiet and submissive to their husbands, but only as long as their husbands’ demands are in conformity with holiness. To see God’s face at the end of our lives on earth, the Lord demands that we should be holy all our days.

Further Reading (King James Version): Hebrews 12:14; Isaiah 33:15-17; Psalm 101:4-8; 24:3,4. Leviticus 11:45; 20:7, 8; 1 Thessalonians 3: 4, 7, 8; 1 Peter 1:14-16; 2 Peter 3:11-14; 2 Corinthians 6:14-17; 7:1; Romans 12:1,2; Psalm 118:27; Luke 1:75; Psalm 15:1-5; Luke 1:5, 6; 1 Peter 3:5, 4, 6-12; Hebrews 12:14-17