I Am Holy

1 Corinthians 1:2 (New International Reader's Version)
We are sending this letter to you, the members of God's church in Corinth. You have been made holy because you belong to Christ Jesus. God has chosen you to be his holy people. He has done the same for all those everywhere who pray to our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus is their Lord and ours.

WOW! Have you ever thought about the fact that you are holy because you belong to Christ? What an awesome thought. I am holy. I am holy. ME! Do I feel honored or what?

Would I live any differently if I reminded myself every morning before I got up, I am holy. I belong to Christ and I am holy. I have been chosen by God and I am holy. WOW!!! Now, I am not a morning person. I am really not the rise and shine type. But would it help if I woke up remembering I am in Christ and I am holy? God has chosen me and I am holy!!! It sure couldn’t hurt.

What a privilege and what a responsibility. If we are made holy in Christ, don’t we have the responsibility to live like we are holy? Maybe responsibility is the wrong word. Maybe trustworthiness is a better word. Responsibility makes it sound like we don’t have a choice. God always gives us the choice to live like we belong to Him or like we don’t. It’s usually easier to live like we are holy in the big things. We would never kill someone. We would never steal a car. We would never cheat on our spouse. Things like that, because we are Christians, don’t even come into play in our lives. But what about the small things. Do we live like we are holy in the small things, as well as the big?

When my spouse does something around the house, do I thank him and encourage him, or do I growl at him like a bear with a thorn in my paw because it wasn’t done the way I would have done it? I must admit, I have been guilty of this one. When someone at work hurts my feelings, do I sulk and harbor resentment or do I realize they may be going through some tough time and need my understanding. When someone cuts me off in traffic or doesn’t pull away from the stop sign as fast as I think they should, do I grumble and shout at them (they can’t hear you, you know, but God can) or do I practice patience and pray that they get home safely. OUCH! That one hurts.

I’ve come to the conclusion that living like I am holy is not a privilege, but a sweet responsibility. Something I should be conscientious about. Something we should feel honored to show the world. If we live our lives as though we know Christ has made us holy, will the world not want to follow suit? And even if it doesn’t, should we let them affect our determination to follow Christ leading? Just some things to think about on this wonderful day God has given us to serve Him.