40 Graces for Forgiveness (Day 11: Holiness)

 

During these next ten days of Lent I want to look at ten different aspects of Christ’s character. I’ve pulled these ten from scripture because they’re especially meaningful to me for one reason or another, but this is nowhere close to an exhaustive list of Jesus’ beautiful attributes.

Today we have holiness.

I think I’m going to turn around right now and pick something easier—

No, no. Holiness. We’re doing holiness.

The holiness of Jesus. (Versus the hole-iness of me.)

BibleGateway.com lists 611 instances of the word “holy” in the Bible. “Holy” means dedicated or consecrated to God; set apart for Him and His purposes. The Bible talks about the Holy Spirit, holy angels, holy prophets, and even holy ground. Anything and anyone can be holy.

I’m pretty sure unforgiveness renders me an unfit candidate for holiness, however.

If offense is the root of unforgiveness, its offshoots include bitterness, rage, wrath, vengeance, and hard-heartedness. (Again, not nearly an exhaustive list, just my personal top five.) I don’t like living with those kinds of twigs and branches and dead leaves hanging off of me. They make me like Medusa, carrying around a head full of hissing snakes instead of bearing the soft, luxurious tresses she was meant to grow.

If I recognize that I am meant to be holy—dedicated and consecrated, set apart for God and His purposes—I can’t acquiesce to living with unholy things inside of or attached to me. They have to go.

Geez. This gets harder every day.

* * *

If the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, so is the whole lump, and if the root is holy, so are the branches. – Romans 11:16

* * *

God, I am nowhere close to looking anything like Jesus. I realize that’s not news to you. But I want to be holy. I want to be different than those who don’t know you and have no reason to pursue holiness. I should be different, if I claim to know you. Please teach me today about holiness: what it looks like, sounds like, feels like. Let me recognize holiness in others and nurture the seeds of it that you put inside me. Keep reminding me that holiness and unforgiveness have no part in each other.

Coming tomorrow... Justness.

40 Graces for Forgiveness: a Healing Journey is now available in print. $6.49 at Amazon.com.

With questions for personal meditation and space for journaling, this 40-day devotional series offers a deeper look at Christ's command that we forgive. For a personal pilgrimage, or as a resource for group Bible study, 40 Graces for Forgiveness: a Healing Journey invites seekers of forgiveness and healing to the path on which God longs to meet us all. $6.49 at Amazon.com. Find out more about 40 Graces for Forgiveness: a Healing Journey.