Recently, I heard a preacher say, “We are in battle, but we’re not sure why. We are trying to be holy, but many of us don’t really know what it means to be holy. We are trying to be holy, but many of us don’t know how to be holy.” He’s right! The word “holy” simply means, “set apart for God’s use.” Do you want to be holy? Do you want to be “set apart” for His use? Paul said, “be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:2). Transformation – the process of becoming holy – begins in your mind. Peter also spoke of this theme in 1 Peter 1:13, “Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” He challenged us to live holy lives, and he showed us the process of holy living begins with the way we think – holiness begins in the mind. Once we win that battle, we will begin to see changes in the way we live. We will examine three elements of holiness.
Preparation “Therefore gird up the loins of your mind…” Girding the loins of your mind means preparing yourself for strenuous mental activity (i.e., your mind has become a battlefield; get ready to fight). Every day, we encounter thousands of events and images that attempt to influence the way we think. If we are not careful and cautious, we will find ourselves being influenced by the world, instead of by the Word. Holiness begins in the mind. For this reason, it is essential that our minds be prepared for action.
Separation “…be sober…” The word “sober” means, “clear-minded.” Peter was saying that if one is going to live a holy life, he has to keep his head on straight. We must detach ourselves from our emotions so that they do not have the power to control us – just as we detach ourselves from our possessions and the things of this world.
Concentration “…rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” The word translated “grace” is charis. It means, “kindness shown to someone that is undeserving.” It describes the kindness God shows to us. God shows kindness to us not because we are good, but because He is good. Our hope is in His goodness, not in our own. We cannot learn to live holy lives until we learn to take our eyes off of ourselves and concentrate on God. He should be the center of our attention.
For Christians, the problem is not so much a matter of wanting to be holy as it is winning the battle to be holy. How are you doing? Are you committed to being more holy today?
