“We have learned to live with unholiness and have come to look upon it as the natural and expected thing.” wrote A.W. Tozer. I find this to be too true these days. Anyone who tries to lead a holy lifestyle seems to be ridiculed.

But Tozer died almost 50 years ago! We tend to think this unholy living is recent history. But no. Tozer talked about this and the Bible talked about it all the time. Just think of King Ahab who “did evil in in the sight of the Lord more than all who were before him” (1 King 16:30, NRSV). As Ahab’s life demonstrates, sin can gain a strong hold on our soul.

Sin ages our soul in a bad way.
Yet just as sin can become habitual,
so holy living can also become habitual.
For real.

So roll up your sleeves, put your mind in gear, be totally ready to receive the gift that’s coming when Jesus arrives. Don’t lazily slip back into those old grooves of evil, doing just what you feel like doing. You didn’t know any better then; you do now. As obedient children, let yourselves be pulled into a way of life shaped by God’s life, a life energetic and blazing with holiness. God said, “I am holy; you be holy.” You call out to God for help and he helps—he’s a good Father that way. But don’t forget, he’s also a responsible Father, and won’t let you get by with sloppy living. Your life is a journey you must travel with a deep consciousness of God. It cost God plenty to get you out of that dead-end, empty-headed life you grew up in. He paid with Christ’s sacred blood, you know. He died like an unblemished, sacrificial lamb. (1 Peter 1: 13-19, MSG)

Habitual holiness is possible by God’s power and grace. We can’t do it alone, that’s true. But with God anything is possible. Every choice we make leads us either towards God or away from God. Just as sin hinders us from hearing God’s voice, obedience opens our hearts to receive God’s transforming grace.

No matter how far along the road of sin you’ve traveled,
you are not out of reach of God’s grace.
No one is beyond change.
Even Ahab could have chosen to change.

God is waiting. He paid with Christ’s sacred blood so we could become holy like him. Now it’s up to us – by God’s grace – to start building habits of holiness. Let’s let ourselves be pulled into a way of life shaped by God’s life, a life energetic and blazing with holiness!

 

Gracious God,
We want to become like you!
Forgive us getting tangled with earthly things.
Pour out grace to change our hearts and minds!
Shape our lives according to your will!
Make us holy like you!
In Jesus’ precious name,
Amen

Q4U: Do you struggle with unholiness around you? Are you building habits of holiness?

Be blessed, my fellow pilgrim, as you practice habitual holiness by God’s holy grace!

P.S. On Friday I will – God willing – be writing about “Towards Loving Holiness”. Stay tuned.

Giving thanks today for
#551 God empowering us for habitual holiness
#552 change is possible by grace
#553 we can choose God
#554 holy living is best for us
#555 God knows what’s best for us
#556 God is stronger than sin
#557 we are called to be holy like Christ
#558 God cares for our well-being
#559 God’s call for change is ongoing
#560 no one is beyond change.
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Image courtesy of Brandon Johnson. Linking up today with Linking up today with What’s on Your Heart Tuesdays ,  Wordfilled Wednesday, All Things Heart & Home & God-Bumps and God-incidences.