Daily Journal: 28 April

The Character of Christ

Am I enamoured with Christ? Do I seek to know Him better? Do I want His Spirit to rule in my life over and above my own desires? Do I want to please God? Why is this so important?

God is holy. He is also righteous, just, merciful, full of faithfulness, love, compassion and many other godly, gracious attributes. There is one attribute that I can’t even touch on my own without the Holy Spirit’s work in my life. It is the same attribute that without it, I won’t ever see God.

That one attribute is holiness. The attribute of holiness is the very character of Christ.

Hebrews 12:14 (NLT)

Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord.

Thank God, He’s given me the Holy Spirit to produce this in my life. It is His desire that I see Him, that I’m connected closely with Him. It’s His desire that nothing trips me up in life or keeps me from the healthy, vibrant, pure and victorious life that He intends for me.

What are the characteristics of holiness?

Galatians 5:22-23 outline its fruit.

(NLT) But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

Why is the putting to death of my own desires so pleasing to God?

Because without holiness I won’t see Him. He is pleased when sin has no domination over me. When I submit myself to His Spirit I am deciding to kick away from myself whatever it is that separates me from Him. This includes the influence of others against the knowledge of God in my life. I am saying, “I want you God more than that”. It isn't legalistic shunning of others who are not pursuing the same holiness. It is the necessary peaceful faithfulness in a relationship that keeps a relationship together. That standard begins with God.

Ephesians 4:22-24 (ESV)

to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

I am not saved because I pursue holiness. His grace saves me and as I spend more time with Him, His Presence causes me to pursue His holiness. I need to be aware of my sin and be willing to confess it and bring it before Christ to deliver me from it, to forgive me as I turn away from it and pursue holiness instead. This is an ongoing pursuit. I receive His forgiveness with joy and I receive His Spirit to renew my thoughts, desires and will to live in separateness from my sinful state. Purity is a safeguard that also brings peace. Without the desire for it I open myself up to lesser things of which trip me up and weaken me.

2 Corinthians 5:17 (AMP)

Therefore if anyone is in Christ [that is, grafted in, joined to Him by faith in Him as Savior], he is a new creature [reborn and renewed by the Holy Spirit]; the old things [the previous moral and spiritual condition] have passed away. Behold, new things have come [because spiritual awakening brings a new life].

I pray that I, and you, realise how we are washed fresh in Him and that we would pursue His nature rather than our own so that we are empowered by His grace and connected with Him in purity and peace.