The fourth question is:
Who do you think (besides
Jesus) is an example of holiness in the Bible and why? How would you like to
grow in holiness like that person?
But
I hope you'll enjoy and benefit from hearing about other people's comments on
this question.
If holiness is less about perfection and
more about sanctification--the process of God at work in our lives to make us
more like him--then I identify with people who, like me, are sinners.
One
such character is the publican who prayed, "Be merciful to me." Jesus
declared that man to be justified rather than the Pharisee. Now, justification
is the beginning of holiness, so this man had only begun his journey.
Nevertheless, it seems he was closer to God's concept of
holy than the Pharisee who saw himself as better than the publican.
Therein
lies the problem. We often compare ourselves to others rather than to God's
standard. When we do, we often think we are more holy than we are. So, I
conclude that we are most holy when we most recognize our sinfulness.
Another example is the sinful woman who anointed Jesus' feet at Simon's
home. Simon, who was a Pharisee, but his legacy is that he's known as Simon the
leper. Obviously, at this point he has been cleansed, but he is unthankful.
There is a strong possibility that Simon was one of the nine ungrateful lepers
whom Jesus cleansed who never returned to give thanks. In the contrast of these
two people, we see another facet of holiness: gratitude.
So, to be holy we must be aware of our need rather than being
self-sufficient. Then, we must be grateful that God makes us holy when we cannot
do so ourselves. Holiness then, is less about what we do and more about what God
does for us. I yearn to be more like the publican and the thankful woman, and
less like the two Pharisees.
Jeff
In all the darkness of my young life, Enoch stood out as a shining beacon. I discovered him in Genesis when I was only nine. He WALKED with God and he was not, for God took him. Somehow those 13 words in Genesis 5:24 captured my imagination. I didn’t know exactly what they meant, but my pastor told me daily time in the Word, daily times of prayer, were a part of our
“walk” with God.
Someone has said there are three stages to Bible Study: the “cod liver oil” stage when you just do it because it’s good for you, the “grapenuts” stage when you take in nourishment but it’s still very dry, and finally, the “honey from the rock” stage where it is sweet to your taste. During the cod liver oil and “grapenuts” stages, Enoch was my inspiration. It was only later that I associated holiness with him. He was set apart for fellowship with God until at last he belonged more to Heaven than to earth.
I was older when one of the holiest men of the New Testament became my “lode star.” Stephen, who was called to the mundane task of waiting on tables in the early church, was so attuned to God, so immersed in His word that he was filled with the Holy Spirit. Therefore, his enemies were unable to resist the words that he spoke. The Adversary hated Stephen as he always hates holy people. But as usual, the Adversary
overplayed his hand. When he stirred up men to stone Stephen, the Shekinah glory was reflected in his face.
Among his enemies that day was a young Pharisee named Saul who was never able to erase that shining face, those words of forgiveness from his heart. After Saul became Paul, the great missionary, he brought the gospel to our ancestors in
Stephen.
Kathryn
I guess I would choose Zechariah. Details of Jesus' life were written 500 years before Jesus came. Through Zechariah I've learned God keeps his promises. To me, Zechariah's holiness gave people encouragement and hope. Reading Zechariah strengthens my faith and I think if you are going to proclaim the coming of the Messiah, of necessity your life must be an example of holiness. If I don't strive to be holy, which means to me daily "dying to self" and keeping God's commandments straining toward the mark, then how will I be an example for anyone? Neither did Zechariah paint a bed of roses, but his message of the coming King gave the people hope even in their adversities. I think that is where we live today.
Joan C.
Two people come to
mind. Mary, the mother of Jesus, and John, is faithful disciple. They were both
heroic figures. I do not think I can be heroic. My goal is to follow Jesus
knowing He knows me and my limitations.
Holiness is not in appearances as some people might think. It is deep
within your soul. It is a need to follow Jesus because He first loved us and
gave His life for our sins. To follow a human being is to follow someone with
their own faults. So for me, Jesus is the only one. That doesn't mean I don't
love and respect Mary. Her heart was pierced with the sufferings of Jesus. Or
that I don't have love for John who adored Jesus. I do and I am grateful for the
lessons in the Bible.
Bea
Yes, it would be good to sing forth a straightforward song like that. I
want to keep going for the light, want to be able to stand up for what I
believe. I want to be able to fight for what is right and good.
Sylvie
Kim
Daniel and Joseph are two examples I
think of as holy. They both had challenges, being taken to foreign countries
against their will, as captives. Yet they both chose to trust God and like
Joseph said, “You meant it for evil but God meant it for good.” What
incredible faith.
I personally want to make that choice--to trust God no matter what. Like
Job who said, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.” I think even his
questions to God were respecting God and showed holiness.
Since they were humans who let God take charge of their physical lives by
giving them wisdom for their mental, emotional and spiritual lives, I know God
can do that for me to if I will let him.
None of them immediately had those victories, but they grew in grace
daily, which is all God expects of me.
I have so much more peace now than I used to that I know He is doing His
work in me, and it is a wonder to behold to see His work and sense the results.
Lana
I
am the weakest and most sinful of men and cannot “grow” in holiness. I can
only grow in humility and servanthood to Christ. In my strength, I shall be
glorified. In my weakness, shall Christ be glorified.
To be responsive to the question; Paul. "But far be it from me to
glory except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been
crucified to me, and I to the world." Gal.6:14
Such abandonment to the cross IS holiness. Thus, the questions that must
follow: Am I willing to submit my needful self to God’s will, in spite of the
outcome? Am I willing to be forgotten for His glory? Am I willing to be broken
bread and poured out wine for Him? Tough questions for the “me first”
generation.
Shalom, Jonah
Daniel, because he was able to focus on
what really mattered, instead of himself. I would love to be able to have a
Kingdom perspective, no matter what is going on. He must have known God and His
character really well to have the strength to stand in what he faced.
Ker
Heather
As to the person in Scripture who personified holiness, I would
first reply -- Joseph. He is truly a prototype of Christ. No mention is made of
any bad traits in Joseph unless you count his youth where he may have been a
little boastful. Joseph was loved by his father yet betrayed, incarcerated,
lied about, mistreated, while remaining a good humored, thoughtful individual
who went about doing good even if it wasn’t returned. Eventually Joseph has
His Day and comes to power but there isn't any indication that he uses any
underhanded means.
Other favorites who come to mind are Esther, Deborah, Paul, Ruth, and
Elijah. Each use his or her position, power, station in society, and wealth
to usher in God's kingdom all while keeping intact their own personal piety and
integrity. Today's pressure cooker world force us into pale reflection of what
we really are and want to be. I, like the rest of you, am not immune. Many
times I don't take a stand or speak up when I should or shut up when appropriate.
I need to let God's Spirit have more control and resist my own
rebellious "take charge" nature.
Sheila
David, the man after God's own heart.
Certainly not perfect, yet most of the time his heart was in the right place.
Another thing I love about David is that when Nathan confronted him with his
sin, he did not make excuses. Instead he confessed that he had sinned, and that
against God himself. A big step in consistent growth in holiness would be to
give up the excuses, accusations, and blame that so easily roll off my tongue,
to truly be a woman after God's own heart. ALL sin, no matter what it looks like
to me or anyone else is ultimately against God. My desire is to please God in
thoughts, attitudes, words, and actions. Not an easy assignment. With God all
things are possible and I find David's Psalms very helpful as examples of how to
deal with the uglies in life that are often my excuse for sinning.
Barbara
When I die, I doubt that my funeral service will list great
accomplishments, but I would hope that people could say that Jan walked with
God. Walking with God means being constantly aware that He is with me in
whatever I am doing. The closer I am to God, the more my love for Jesus will be
reflected in my relationships with people.
Jan Marie
Patti
All
the people mentioned in the Bible are Human...just like me. The HOLY God loved
us when were TRASH...We humans are born by the Spirit of God...like a baby
human...we have to grow into maturity...Holiness...everything.
David and Peter, my favorite men in the Bible, messed everything up. God
loved them and used them... Selah.
Ruth was really into adventure and followed God...no matter what. I love
the adventure of Following Jesus...you never know where it will take you or what
the experience will entail.
Abraham & Moses were both mentioned as being especially faithful.
However, it took Moses 80 years to get into the place of usability. It went both
ways though...God had to hang in to keep Moses on line and Moses had to hang on
until He accomplished that.
Paul, I think of him as "holy" because he was so strict. But he
got that way after God smacked him Flat. He did grow up being a strong Jewish
Leader and that probably taught him discipline. Which really helps when you are
a Christian and want to grow.
My parents taught me discipline among other things and I became a
workaholic and a perfectionist... (like the rest of my family). It took years of
Conscious Practice to break that in my life. When I relax though, I go right
back into that mode.
Each person mentioned in the Word has some of the Character of God...so
bottom line... I want to be like that part of each of them.
Linda
Esther
- To me Esther is someone in the Bible who represents holiness. She was
pure in her thinking and her integrity and character was very becoming. She
stood for righteousness and was fearless before the king in making her request. And,
God honored her stand at her own expense. Doing the right thing for many was far
more important to her than protecting herself. So, Esther is an example to
me of holiness. In her quiet way, she carried confidence from her faith and
that gave her the strength to have the courage of her convictions no matter the
outcome.
Jennifer
When
I first read this question, my first thought was – Mary, mother of Jesus. I
tried to think of others, but she was the overpowering example above all the
rest. Mary definitely was set apart for a very specific purpose. Not only that,
but she only had one question – and that was, “How will this happen?”
After the angel answered that question, she responded simply, “Yes, Lord, as
You will.” This response immediately changed her entire life, not only for the
moment, but for all eternity. She was absolutely willing to do God’s will in
her life, no matter how much pain, and sorrow it would cause her. In my view,
she was holy according to all the meanings of the word that have been brought to
this chat room.
Jan
I
think Esther was a supreme example of holiness, because she submitted herself to
God's will for her life, even at risk of death. Esther recognized God's
sovereignty in the circumstances and played the role that she was meant to play
in God's Kingdom.
June H.
For me, Moses represents holiness. He
obeyed God, reluctantly at first, but he obeyed. He never seemed to doubt
whatever God told him to do. At one point, he even asked God to take his life
rather than destroy the Israelites. (Don't remember the passage). In anger,
Moses struck the rock to get water-disobeyed God-but at the end of his life
when God told him to climb
Esther
is the other one I think of as being holy. Although she was in the court and
finally became queen, I don't think her life was especially joyful--or fun. But
for the sake of her people, she put her life on the line to "confess"
her Jewish heritage and asked the king for help to save her people. She loved
and trusted God to see her through this time, knowing she could pay with her
life.
June V.
Hosea, the prophet, is
an example of holiness to me. He was obedient to God even when God's commands
seemed preposterous. Hosea was a holy prophet in the Old Testament whose
assignment from God was to marry a whore, which he did.
This may not seem holy until one realizes that Hosea's life was a
prophetic picture of God's love for His people even when they are unfaithful.
One can imagine the public ridicule that Hosea faced as he obeyed God.
In the time of this marriage,
Those who closed their hearts must have jeered. But those who opened
their hearts saw the picture of God's faithfulness in this marriage, for God is
faithful when we are not. Hosea risked his reputation for the sake of obedience.
And because he did, in the end, the people returned to God.
Hosea's entire life was used as a message from God to His people. I would
not desire to be in a similar pair of shoes, but I desire to have a heart more
like Hosea’s. Hosea's trust and obedience surpassed his questions.
Helen
I want
to be like him as he opened his heart to the Lord and held nothing back. I want
to sit alone with the Lord and sacrifice unto Him as David did. I want to say
that I can't give to the Lord something that cost me nothing.
There
are many other Bible characters I could have chosen, like Nehemiah and his
commitment to accomplish what the Lord called him to do but for today, David is
my choice.
Brenda