What God Wants

S - Hebrews 10:1, 10-14 (NLT): "The old system in the law of Moses was only a shadow of the things to come, not the reality of the good things Christ has done for us. … And what God wants is for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all time. Under the old covenant, the priest stands before the altar day after day, offering sacrifices that can never take away sins. But our High Priest offered himself to God as one sacrifice for sins, good for all time. Then he sat down at the place of highest honor at God's right hand. There he waits until his enemies are humbled as a footstool under his feet. For by that one offering he perfected forever all those whom he is making holy. "

O - The Scripture says "made holy" and then "making holy" and question is which is it? Does the offering of Jesus mean we are made holy or being made holy? Clearly the old system did not make anyone such for it could never take away sins. But is the only focus of Jesus' sacrifice the absence of sin and guilt from heaven's perspective? Jesus sacrifice does more than bring to the believer a change in legal status … Jesus brings a change which "keeps on changing." The phrase used by Paul was being transformed from glory to glory. Our sins are taken away but this is not the conclusion of what Jesus has done or what means to be holy. Holy is more than righteous or free from sin, it is other world, not like this world, not like us and not like me. And what God wants is for us to be made holy by Jesus. From the first moment of faith in the Lord we are made holy and the work/process of being made holy is simultaneously engaged at the same time. I became a father the day my son was born, but I was also becoming, being made and growing into the reality of a father every day after that. The very first day of a teacher's career rightfully identifies them as a teacher, but over the years they grow and are being made teachers of the highest caliber. This is the beauty of the new way in Jesus. It is dynamic, interactive, relational and ongoing. Whatever the need or hope, Jesus has made the way, for all things are possible to him who believes, and he has made us holy and is making us holy … other world, not like this one.

A - Holy as a term, status and pursuit has been caught up and confused with religious activities, theological postulations and cultural opinions on behaviors. But this not what Jesus gave his life for and not what the Scriptures present us when it comes to this desire and requirement of God. Holy is that which we receive from Jesus exclusively and it is what he is making us to be, not in religious or theological expressions but in concrete and relational reality. Holy comes from another world (heaven) and is all about that other world which expresses itself in ways NOT like this one. Holy is not so much about what I don't do and more about what I do … and the doing is not like this world. Holy is loving my enemies, is losing my life, is surrendering my rights, is forgiving all, and showing mercy to those who don't deserve it. It is being a friend of sinners, engaging the needy around me, caring for the little, the weak, the awkward, the impaired. Holy comes out of us in terms of generosity, magnanimity, humility, patience, tenderness...for this is very much like heaven not at all like earth. With my sins dealt with once and for all in the sacrifice of Jesus he is insisting that I move from made ready for heaven to living like it.



P - Holy Lord, most Holy Lord Jesus,
Thank you for wanting me to be made holy and to be one you are making holy. I admit that both are underserved and impossible to me on my own. Dear Lord, I don't want to be on my own for anything let alone this awesome gift and assignment. Thank you for forgiving and cleansing all my sins; for paying the price to keep me in your kingdom, not just to get me in. Lord, today my assignment, by grace, is holy living: received from you and worked by you through me into tangible expressions toward you and all others. Lord, I am unequal to such a task and this is also the point. Your life takes you! Lord, cause your life to flow into me and out of me. Enable me to make the most of every opportunity and to engage the faith which pleases you … unto an expression of your holiness in and through my little life. Lord, let me be a reason someone else believes.

Steve