“I am the Lord your God, therefore be holy, because I am holy.” -Leviticus 11:44
“Since everything will be destroyed…what kind of people should you be? You should live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.” -2 Peter 3:11-12a
“In view of God’s mercy…offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – This is your spiritual act of worship (or ‘reasonable service’)” -Romans 12:1
Why is it that when you look at people you’d say are “holy”, it often seems like the criteria for holiness is a surrender of joy? It’s as if they feel they can’t have any fun anymore, because they must focus all their thoughts and hearts on “things above” to the exclusion of anything down here below.
I’m sure it’s good-hearted, but…though we are told to “look forward” to the day God comes, Peter also encourages us to “speed its coming.” If we are to hasten God’s return, shouldn’t we do it by engaging the world with joy, rather than retreating from and ignoring it? Shouldn’t we be known for what we are for, rather than what we are against?
Come, Lord Jesus, and find us faithful when You return…
