How To Live A Holy Life
What does it mean to live a holy life? A holy life means to live a life of discipline, focus, and attention promoting righteous living. Total holiness means being set apart to God.
If you’re not sure what we are talking about, read on because it will get much clearer.
Our goal in living a holy life is to do that which is right in the sight of God. In our scripture text for today, Haggai gave us some insight on holiness versus unholiness.
If one of you is carrying some meat from a holy sacrifice in his robes and his robe happens to brush against some bread or stew, wine or olive oil, or any other kind of food, will it also become holy?’” The priests replied, “No.” Haggai 2:12
With that statement, we can conclude that holiness can’t be transferred. The prophet went on to ask a second question.
Then Haggai asked, “If someone becomes ceremonially unclean by touching a dead person and then touches any of these foods, will the food be defiled?” And the priests answered, “Yes.” Haggai 2:13
With their answer to that question, we can conclude that unholiness is transferrable. Haggai proved that point in the next verse.
Then Haggai responded, “That is how it is with this people and this nation, says the Lord. Everything they do and everything they offer is defiled by their sin. Haggai 2:14
Taking that thought a little further, another word for unholiness is sin. And according to Haggai, sin defiles anything we try to offer to God.
Steps to Living a Holy Life
Fortunately, unholiness and sin don’t need to be the last word for us. Peter laid out for us in his first epistle steps we can follow to live a holy life.
So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world. 1 Peter 1:13
To prepare our minds simply means making a conscious choice to serve God in all we do. And because of the defiling power of sin, Peter says we must use self-control.
He also reminded us that Jesus who forgives us of that defiling sin will come back again. Therefore we should live each day of our lives with the hope of His return.
So why do we need a prepared mind, self-control, and all of our hope in His return? Because they serve as the prerequisite for the next step.
So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then. 1 Peter 1:14
Before Peter received the fullness of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost he understood what it meant to slip back. After he denied Jesus 3 times, he was ready to go back to his old life.
But Jesus redeemed him and personally confirmed his calling. To live a holy life means living as obedient children to God. Because you too are personally redeemed by Christ.
But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. 1 Peter 1:15
What Living a Life of Holiness Looks Like
Now, I don’t know about you, but I’m a bottom-line person. I want to know what that looks like. What does it mean to be holy in everything you do?
I know it doesn’t mean that we should look and act religious. Jesus didn’t have much time or compassion for the religious people he encountered.
If we continue reading 1 Peter, we get a glimpse of what it looks like to live a holy life.
You were cleansed from your sins when you obeyed the truth, so now you must show sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters. Love each other deeply with all your heart. 1 Peter 1:22
Jesus combined all of the laws of the old covenant into these two statements. You must love the Lord your God with all your heart. And love your neighbor as yourself.
That should relieve us of some pressure. We don’t have to look holy or act holy. We only need to be holy as we live a holy life of loving others and living for Jesus.
Lord, prepare our minds for action. And help us to exercise self-control as we put all our hope in the gracious salvation that will come.
Check out these other related posts of the Holy Spirit helping us to live holy lives.
- God Will Pour His Holy Spirit Upon All People
- How To Fulfill God’s Purpose For Your Life
- How To Let The Holy Spirit Lead Your Life
- The Holy Spirit Will Guide You In This Life
- Living By The Holy Spirit
Haggai is only 2 chapters in length. Our story today is from Haggai 2.
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