Hubby was talking on Sunday (he does that, he's the pastor). His topic was "Biblical Holiness". I glanced around the small sanctuary, ah, two new families today, a perfect time to bring up such a nice, fluffy, easy topic like holiness.
But, this is Steve we're talking about, so I shouldn't have worried. I've never met a man like him. He's the sort of pastor who, no matter what the problem, no matter how bad things look, he will always and without fail point a gentle, steady finger toward God for the final answer.
He told us holiness is about selling out to Jesus - body, mind, and spirit. . . and material goods, and family members, and friends, and. . . and. . . and. . . all of it. We are to be empty buckets which God fills with the things He deems us stewards of (even the things He gives back to us are never truly ours - they belong to God and He entrusts us with them).
Steve told us it isn't easy. He said it is a concious decision - it won't just happen on its own. We have to want it to happen, pursue it, he said. And when we do, God rushes in.
We have only to confess our sin and God rushes in to forgive it. We have only to hand over the grubby rags of our lives and God rushes in to clothe us in white robes. We have only to pursue Him and He rushes in and shows us He has been pursuing us the entire time.
Who is this God so ready to forgive, to clean us up, to make us holy?
He is the God who, when we were yet sinners - haters of God, sent His only Son as a sacrifice so that we, who hated Him, could be given opportunity to fellowship with Him.
Let us offer up, this day, our small lives, our tiny hopes, our dull imaginations, and allow God to rush in and transform us to His likeness.
You can read Pastor Steve's sermon at: http://practicallysanctified.blogspot.com/
Bonnie Grove is the author of the upcoming book Your Best You: Discovering and Developing the Strengths God Gave You (Beacon Hill Press, March 1, 2009. Her debut novel, Talking to the Dead (David C. Cook) will hit stores June 1, 2009. Learn more at www.bonniegrove.com.
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