Title
Holiness Is Not An Option
Scripture
For I am the Lord who brings you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God. You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.
(Leviticus 11:45)
Devotional
Holiness is more than a list of do’s and don’ts. Holiness is Christ-likeness. It is the goodness that comes from Christ alone. Jesus Himself said, “No one is good but one, that is, God.”(1) Our holiness is, therefore, directly proportional to our relationship to the Lord. Holiness is based solely on relationship. Because I love Jesus, I will always endeavor to do and to fulfill His will for my life. This is true holiness.
Holiness is not merely piety. Piety is good, but there are many pious people who are lost. The apostle Paul said in true holiness, “For I am determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.”(2) Holiness realizes that Christ has delivered us out of bondage to be our God; that we would desire to be conformed to His image. Holiness is more what happens on the inside than what we portray on the outside. “Be holy, for I am holy.”
(1) Mark 10:18, (2) 1 Corinthians 2:2