To Be or Not to Be, That is the Question. Be Perfect and Be Holy at the Same Time.

Perhaps it is good that this series of lessons has brought us to the last Sunday of the year, 2025. It is a great time to reflect on our life. What we did well and what we could have done better. Of course, we cannot change the past. But that is not what reflection is for; it is to challenge ourselves to try and not make the same mistakes in the days ahead. We already talked about the word PERFECT. So, now is a good time to discuss the word HOLY. Peter reminds us, “but as HE who called you is HOLY, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I AM HOLY.’” Peter is quoting from Leviticus 11:44 and/or Leviticus 19:2 which ties in a principle from the past to our present. It is something the LORD has always desired of HIS people. Being HOLY does not mean being sinless. It means ‘to be set apart, separated’. In other words, we are not to act like everyone else. GOD chose Israel for HIS purpose. HE set them apart from all other nations and gave them HIS Divine Law. HE promised, that through this family of people would come the MESSIAH, the CHRIST. This MESSIAH would be for ALL PEOPLE. Again, Peter says ALL Christians are being built into a spiritual house to be a Holy Priesthood, and a Holy Nation. (Read 1Peter 2) We are made Holy in CHRIST as a chosen people, to be a people for GOD’S own possession. Therefore, we are to live holy lives, reflecting CHRIST in us as lights to a dark world. We are not sinless, but we are Redeemed. We are still human, but we are Saved. We do not use our humanness as an excuse to deliberately behave like those without CHRIST. And so, the command to try and live separate and CHRISTLIKE lives. Let’s help each other to live that way this New Year, Holy in our Conduct. And so, for ALL of GOD’S People, have a Holy New Year.

Russell Ashby