Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – July 28, 2015
Guest Writer: Meet my friend Shana Schutte. We are blessed to have her as our guest writer.
For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. 1 Thessalonians 4:7
Like most people, I have spent a good amount of time trying to understand my life experiences. If I am honest, many things haven’t made sense. Unexplained paths. Dashed expectations. Disappointments. Shattered dreams. There have been times in life, probably like you, when I have looked back over my shoulder and thought, God what in the world was that all about? But a couple of years ago, I had a life-changing revelation that I have been trying to understand my experiences the wrong way. Instead of analyzing them through a lens of good or bad, right or wrong, perfect or imperfect, God’s will or my will, maybe I need to look at them through the lens of holiness.
I have to admit, my brain has always turned off when I have heard this word. Why? Because even though I have heard the word “holiness” a million times, I haven’t ever really been able to grasp what it means. I have a feeling I won’t ever come close to understanding its meaning until I get to heaven. It’s like trying to tell a woman who has been blind from birth what a breathtaking sunset looks like. Even though I intellectually know holiness is good and beautiful, I just don’t get it because it’s so “other.” It’s so God. But I do know that holy is what God wants me to be.
“Be holy because I am holy” (1 Peter 1:16).
The definition of holiness–in a nutshell–means being set apart to purity, to be like God. And the result of holiness, of God transforming us to make us more like Him, is outrageous joy, amazing peace, overflowing love—and all the other things that are embodied in our Perfect Creator. So what does holiness have to do with trying to understand life’s painful, meaningless, or seemingly pointless experiences?
When I understand that God’s goal is to make me holy, not to always make me happy or grant all my desires, then every imperfect situation, every struggle, every disappointment, every heartache, every experience I can’t understand, and even my sin become means for Him to accomplish His goal to make me holy. Everything (and I mean everything!) has divine purpose. For those who belong to Christ, no experience in life—good or bad—is ever wasted! God uses everything. Nasty neighbor? An opportunity for holiness. Unfaithful mate? An opportunity for holiness. Broken dreams? An opportunity for holiness. Unemployment? An opportunity for holiness. Financial struggles? An opportunity for holiness. Lost loved ones? An opportunity for holiness. Since we don’t exactly understand how God transforms us to make us more holy through life’s struggles, we have to cooperate with Him and do what He asks of us. And, we have to take Him at His Word.
Isn’t this what Romans 8:28 promises? It’s His guarantee that “in all things God works for the good of those who love him who have been called according to His purpose.” He is always at work to transform us into His likeness–and that means greater joy!
Prayer: Lord, it’s so awesome that you desire to make me holy and you won’t waste a thing in my life to accomplish that purpose. Thank you so much that you are always at work to make me more like you.
Related Readings: 2 Corinthians 7:1; Timothy 1:9; Romans 12:1
Post/Tweet this today: Everything in life is an opportunity to become more like God. #WisdomHunters. #HolinessEqualsHappiness
If you’d like to read more from Shana, you’re invited to download her free e-book, 5 Great Relationship Truths That Will Change Your Life.
Additional Resource: 9 minute music video- Holy Holy Holy Lord God Almighty
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Very powerful message! Something big and deep to think about. God bless each believer to understand this meaning and truly become Christlike!
In Jesus name, Amen.
Dear Inna,
You stated it beautifully: “God bless each believer to understand this meaning and truly become Christlike!” Shana Schutte’s devotional was powerful, I agree, and provided all of us with some life defining thoughts.
Her remarks “When I understand that God’s goal is to make me holy, not to always make me happy or grant all my desires, then every imperfect situation, every struggle, every disappointment, every heartache, every experience I can’t understand, and even my sin become means for Him to accomplish His goal to make me holy” really drove the idea home about holiness and His plans for us. WOW! It never ceases to amaze that our Heavenly Father is in the very details (big or small) of our lives and uses everything for His Purpose.
Gracious! It really is almost too much to comprehend….
Thank you, Inna, for taking the time to reach out to us. We love hearing from our Wisdom Hunter’s family and are grateful you were blessed by Shana’s writing. We are so thankful to have her as a guest writer for Wisdom Hunters.
Blessings to you and yours,
Gwynne
“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
Ephesians 2:10