“But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.” (I Peter 3:15-16 NLT)
For years now, I have limited the number of things that are posted on the refrigerator. Back in the day, when the children were young, there was so many things on the fridge that you thought it was just an immoveable, bulky bulletin board. There were pictures, papers, parent reminders, and printed schedules of games. Like that old movie where a starlet declares, “No wire hangars!” I had a similar expression, “No more posting things on the refrigerator!” I made a few exceptions. Well, I think three to be exact. I have a piece of artwork, created by my youngest grandchild, a save the date wedding card with a picture of one of my son’s and his wife, and as of Sunday, a very special, computer printed reminder with a magnetic backing. It is entitled, “How to Strive to Be More Holy.”
Hee is how that came about. Sis. R, one of our faithful members came prepared for Bible Study (Victory Class) on Wednesday evening. She was more than ready to engage in the icebreaker discussion on being holy. After several members shared what they found regarding “holy,” she showed she had done here homework, says, “I looked up ‘holy’ and in my personal preparation, and I found something helpful, something personally beneficial, and something worth passing on.” She politely continues, “Do you mind if I share something? Can I take a few minutes?” The answer was, “Of course!” Now, before I go on, please note that when you find something helpful in your study of the word, pass it on! Share it with others! When something from the Sunday sermon resonates with you in a specific way, pass it on! Share it with others!
Back to the story. Sister R said she made a card that was going to put it in a place where she would see it daily to remind her of charge to live holy. I asked if she would make a table-tent card for all the members of the Wednesday class. She senses I was serious and consented to doing so. And listen, she went beyond giving the Wednesday class participants a table-tent-card. Yes she did! When she came to Sunday School, she distributed the computer printed reminder with a magnetic binding, decorated with a dove representing the Holy Spirit and a colorful flower at the bottom, appropriate to cause us to smile because God is love. As I said in the opening, I have mine on the fridge. It made the exception qualification. Therefore, it is placed where anybody who comes near the kitchen or walks down the hallway will see it. They can’t miss it. Why did I make the exception? Why did it qualified to be posted on the fridge? Here’s why! I don’t see this piece as clutter, but I see it as a way to clearly remind member of our household and believers who stop by, about God’s expectation for us to strive to be holy. We all need such a reminder! (As a side note, my tee-shirt that says, “I’m a writer, and anything you say or do, I might write about it” is once again proved to be a sincere warning. Smile Sis. R! God used you in a way to minister to others, way beyond the number who attend the Wednesday class!)
Let me pass it on so you can be included in those Sis. R ministers to! Here it is!
“HOW TO STRIVE TO BE MORE HOLY”
Make holiness your purpose.
Don’t resist the Holy Spirit.
Commit to obedience.
Pursue Jesus and study His Word.
Expect improvement, not perfection.
I hope that the above will encourage you to strive to live holy and at the least, enhance your consciousness about living a holy life. Keep striving my friend! Write these words down somewhere fellow saint. You will find that you will hold yourself accountable to work at living holy. Note: If you find this helpful, pass it on! Have a great Tuesday. Be blessed!
Still committed to the climb,
Mark L. King