Longing for Holiness
Scripture Reading — Galatians 5:16-25
The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience … goodness, faithfulness … self-control.
Galatians 5:22-23
It’s hard to “be good.” When people ask, “How are you?” I often reply, “Fine,” or, “Good”—whether I mean it or not.
But “being good” is much different. Jesus told people to be as holy—or perfect—as our heavenly Father is (see Matthew 5:48). I don’t come close! Do you?
Help is on the way. Receiving the Father’s gift, the Holy Spirit, promised by Jesus and delivered on Pentecost, is another element to the faith I receive when I am delivered from sin and guilt through the cross. Because of the cross, the Spirit is poured out on God’s people. The Spirit’s specialty is to empower people to take on the character of Jesus Christ—making them holy. The beauty of our redemption is that when we are made right with God through Christ, we’re also launched on a journey to make our lifestyles right. The Spirit lives in the heart of the believer. If we have new life in Christ, we are being made holy. It is all God’s free gift.
The question is, Will I give up my desires to run the show myself, and surrender control to the Holy Spirit?
The Spirit’s fruit defines holy living. The fruit is unmistakable and so desirable: “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self- control.” Why not ask the God who saves us to give us holiness too?
Father in heaven, your gifts through Christ’s cross are immeasurably rich. Thank you for sending your Spirit. I pray to see the Spirit’s fruit in my life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
About the author — John Rozeboom
Rev. John Rozeboom is a retired pastor of the Christian Reformed Church and a former director of Christian Reformed Home Missions. Currently he is coaching and supporting elders, ministers, and a congregation in mission. John and Linda Rozeboom live in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and they have two married children and five grandchildren.
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