Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

Colossians 3:16

As the Body of Christ, Christians are meant to complement each other in doing Kingdom-growing work. To the unbelieving world, we’re to demonstrate the grace and mercy that has been extended to us by the Lord, so that they’ll see how different we are and glorify God (Matthew 5:16). So, may we live this way—even as the cultural current gets stronger, and swimming upstream gets harder and harder.

But what about within the family of believers? Well, throughout the New Testament, Jesus and His Apostles call us repeatedly (over 50 times) to the “one anothers” of doing life together as Christians. These commandments establish how we’re to behave under the lordship of Christ because they reflect the pattern of Christ. We are, first and foremost, to love one another (John 13:35; Romans 13:8; 1 Peter 1:22; 1 John 3:11). Another biggie is for us to get along—to live in unity (Romans 15:5-7; Ephesians 4). After all, if we’re always fighting and quarreling and backbiting each other, why on earth would an unbeliever look at us and think, “Yeah, I definitely want to follow Jesus since that’s what it looks like!”

Although there is plenty to read (in the Word and about the Word) regarding how the Church should treat one another, I recently heard a simple, yet profound, statement that beautifully summed up a why for all those one anothers: We’re all just walking each other home. (I know, right?!)

Now, I get that “walking someone home” isn’t as much of a thing as it used to be (for a million reasons I won’t go into here). But everyone can understand the rationale for doing so: It’s dark outside; there are entities lurking about that want to cause harm; and walking alone could be dangerous. So, having another alongside you as you journey home brings safety, comfort, encouragement, support. 

This is a goosebump concept for Christ-followers, is it not? From the moment we surrender to Jesus, we’re on our way Home—stepping in the direction of obedience to Him, becoming more like Him, until we are ultimately glorified with Him. And, friend, the world through which we are walking is dark (getting darker by the day). We have a very real enemy whose sole purpose is to kill, steal, and destroy (John 10:10a). It’s a dangerous place—especially if we try to go it alone! (Like that weak gazelle that lags behind the pack, we become easy pickings for our predator when we choose isolation from the family of believers.) But God created us for community, to walk in love and unity through this world toward eternity…to support, encourage, comfort, and provide safety for one another. Plus, although the road is narrow, there’s always room for one more—so invite as many people as you can to join you on the walk!

It’s dark out. And we don’t belong here—in fact, this world hates us (John 15:19). But praise the Lord, we’re on our way home…so lock arms with your brothers and sisters in Christ. And let’s walk home.

Good and gracious heavenly Father, may I recognize the Truth that this world is not my home—but I’m on my way. And as I walk in obedience and love, may I embrace my family of believers, so I’ll never journey alone.

If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.

Galatians 5:25

As believers, you and I know well the unending battle between the flesh (our sinful desires) and the Holy Spirit living in us. (I say “unending”, but praise the Lord, this war will cease completely upon our face-to-face meeting with Jesus in Glory.) Even the Apostle Paul—who led the way for the whole world to know Christ—struggled with this sanctification dilemma. He talks in Romans 7:14-20 that he doesn’t do the good he wants to do (by the Spirit), and he does the evil he doesn’t want to do. He even likens this conflict to walking around with a corpse strapped to him. So, friends, we are not alone in this frustration!

As a gentle reminder, when we surrender our lives to Jesus Christ, putting our trust in what He accomplished by His death and resurrection on our behalf, the Holy Spirit comes to live in us. Jesus promised this (John 16:7). We receive the Holy Spirit—the third Person of the Trinity—at salvation. He is an internal counselor, guide, teacher, intercessor—our Helper to walk our walk of faith. And when we yield to Him, we can be confident that we’re moving in the right direction.

Ah, but even so, that pesky corpse hanging around us (along with the world and the enemy) also pulls on us too, leading us to thoughts, words, and actions that lead the wrong way. So, what can we do for daily victories—gaining ground as we move onward toward our heavenly home? Well, we can take some cues from our mentor, Paul. “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16). 

I’m not sure if this is still a thing in elementary schools and summer camps, but we used to do an event called three-legged race, where two people would tie one of their legs to the other person’s (making three legs), and race others to the finish line. Lots of falls and hilarity would ensue. (Come to think of it, this “dangerous” field day game probably has gone the way of 15-foot monkey bars and those spinny merry-go-broken-arm things on the playground.) Anyway, it dawned on me that walking in the Spirit can be likened to being in a perpetual three-legged race with Him. See, when your leg is tied to another person’s leg you cannot go one direction while they go another. And the key to success is to get into—and stay in—step, creating a rhythm of sorts. If you try to move faster or slower than the other, a fall will shortly follow. 

I like to think that Paul would approve of this loose analogy, as he goes on to say in Galatians 5:25 that we’re to “keep in step with the Spirit”. We have the Holy Spirit in us—not just tied to us by a flimsy bandana! We’re designed to stay aligned with Him (His movements, His direction, His pace) moment by moment by moment. So, we must yield to Him, listening for Him as we keep our eyes and minds focused on the Lord. And the cool thing is, the more we listen, yield, and align with the Holy Spirit, the more natural this pacing-life-with-God becomes. 

If we want to run this three-legged race of life with greater confidence (and fewer falls to the fleshy sinful desires), know that we have the perfect partner in the Holy Spirit. Just yield.

Lord, thank You for giving me the Holy Spirit to live in me, guiding me from salvation to glory. May I yield moment by moment, listening and acting on His direction.

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 15:13

We often talk about different ways we and others “show signs” that signify…well, something. For example, we use this expression to identify negative (and sometimes scary) things, like showing signs of flu (fever, aches, etc.) or even of serious disease. When babies are developing, parents may identify signs of autism or physical delays. And as loved ones age, they may show signs of dementia. Of course, there are also outward signs that indicate positive and joyful things. We show signs of healing when medicine—or miracles—are working. Pregnant women are said to “show” when baby creates the beginning of that precious bump. And through a growing consistency of wise decision making, a teenager shows signs of maturing.

Then there is the set of more subtle signs people show—or throw, as the case might be—that identify them with a certain cultural group. These hand gestures can connect a person with a particular gang or reveal a desire for peace. There are also hand gestures that connote “rock on”, “OK”, and “I’m not very happy with you right now” (often seen associated with driving).

Outward signs give other people a glimpse into our lives—how we are and even who we are. 

The question to believers is this: Are we showing signs of our identity in Christ? See, at the point of surrender to Jesus as our Lord and Savior, everything changes. We change. We’re made new (2 Corinthians 5:17). We become children of God (John 1:12). We are citizens of heaven, and this world is not our home (Philippians 3:20-21). And as a sign to us of this grace-given transformation, God gives us the Holy Spirit to live in us, empowering us to walk according to our new identity.

So, again, I ask: Are you showing signs of who you are as a blood-bought believer? Am I? Do our lives reflect the righteousness that now defines us? Are we daily walking in obedience to the Word in the direction of holiness? Do others know we are Christ-followers by the way we love them (John 13:35)? And, as someone once asked, “If you were on trial for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?” Or are we living the same as the world lives, feet up, flowing with the current of the culture?

Friend, if your words and actions show no signs of new life in Christ—if it’s impossible for others to see how you’re different from this dark world—you must seriously assess your professed faith. See, even the demons believe, but they are not surrendered to Jesus as Lord and Savior (James 4:19). A changed life in Jesus will show signs of change.

The days are dark, culture is divided, and people are hurting—they need to see signs of hope. And that hope is only found in the Good News of Jesus. But how will they see the signs if we don’t show (and tell) them? 

Lord, may my life in Christ be a sign of hope to others, a shining light in the deepening darkness—and may I be prepared to give the reason for my hope (1 Peter 3:15)!

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7

Are you a worrier? Or maybe you have an anxious child? Although worry has always been part of the human experience (well, since the Fall in the Garden), our current digital lives have certainly escalated its breadth and intensity. Social media, in particular, has generated whole new levels of angst, including FOMO (fear of missing out) and FOBO (fear of better options), which can paralyze decision-making at every level—from a simple social outing to job pursuits to marriage. 

There have been numerous neurological studies about worry and anxiety that show worrying is like a well-worn path. The more we travel down that road, the wider, more familiar, and more natural that path becomes. It’s like when you have to run to the grocery store: you get in your car and drive your usual route without thinking—you just arrive, barely aware of the lefts and rights you took to get there. The more we worry, the more we’ll go down the path of worry. 

So, what can we do to break the anxious-thinking pattern? Well, according to the scientific research, our brains cannot simultaneously be anxious and thankful. In other words, worry and gratitude are mutually exclusive—they are incompatible. In fact, consistent gratitude not only reduces anxiety and depression, it also improves sleep quality, reduces pain, and releases negative emotions. Thankfulness brings peace.

But as is the case with many “recent scientific discoveries” related to biology, ecology, archeology, etc., God already told us that thousands of years ago. From Proverbs and Psalms through the gospels and epistles, the Bible directs us not to worry—and why. It’s Paul in his letter to the Philippians, though, that specifies how to combat anxiety: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7). Pray and be thankful, and peace will replace worry—they can’t exist at the same time.

So, let’s embrace thankfulness and forge some new mental pathways, shall we? Feeling worried? Going down the path of FOMO or FOBO? Stop and be grateful! Focus on the blessings, gifts, and positive aspects of the situation—and your life in general. Paving the road to peace may initially be challenging, especially if your habitual route is oft-traveled anxiety. But start casting your cares on Jesus (1 Peter 5:7) and be thankful in all things (1 Thessalonians 5:18)…and let gratitude become your new groove. 

Lord, may I cast my anxieties on You, choosing to be grateful in all things, to experience the peace of God that guards my heart and mind.

Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.

James 4:8a

My incredibly adorable dog Caroline has truly been a gift to me. She has brought immense joy to our home—and she’s taught me a lot, especially about being thankful. Caroline also rarely leaves my side. The first thing she does when she wakes up (after sneezing and rolling around like a goofball) is look for me. While I sit at my desk in my home office hour after hour, she is lying right next to me. If I’m on the couch in the evening, she’s at my feet. (She used to be on the couch with me, but I’ve recently banned that practice with our new furniture—much to my husband’s chagrin.) And when I walk to the bathroom, she follows, nudging the door open, when possible, to be sure she can see me. In the kitchen making lunch? She’s underfoot. She loves me (in the ways a dog can), stays close to me, keeps her eyes on me (when she’s not snoozing), and gets a little panicked if she can’t find me. My husband has taken to mimicking a could-be Caroline voice saying, “Mommy, mommy! I only need mommy!”

Recently, as I’ve been focusing on abiding more closely in the Lord, another lesson from Caroline bubbled up in my mind and spirit, connecting her clinginess to me with my own relationship with Jesus. So, I started asking myself some essential questions—let’s consider this together, shall we?

1. As soon as I open my eyes in the morning, do I seek the Lord?
2. While working and in meetings throughout the day, am I staying in God’s presence so to influence every thought, word, and action?
3. Do I consider Jesus sitting next to me on the couch as I hit play on that Netflix series?
4. Is God my refuge—my safe place—so that I know “the nearness of God is good for me” (Psalm 73:28)?
5. Would I panic if I find myself out of God’s presence—and do I immediately focus on setting my eyes on Him? And are we calmed in His presence?

Wow. If I clung to the Lord in the same way Caroline clings to me—oh, the sweet contentment and joy! So, let’s be like my rescue dog! Grateful every moment for being saved from darkness and death into glorious light and life (Ephesians 2:1-10; Colossians 3:15; James 1:17). Keeping our eyes on the One who is sovereign over our lives (Psalm 103:9; Romans 8:28). Being calmed and quieted by His love (Zephaniah 3:17). Drawing near to God to experience His nearness to us (James 4:8a). 

As Christians in the New Covenant, God is near—in fact, He dwells in us (John 14:23; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20)! Can’t much closer than that! But we must choose to abide, to surrender to the Lord’s presence and power in our lives. We must keep our eyes on Him at all times. Just like Caroline.

Lord, may I always abide in Your presence, knowing that my peace, hope, confidence, and every good gift comes only from You.

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Hebrews 10:24-25

What is a community? Generally speaking, it can be the city or area you live in. It could be your neighborhood, especially if you live in one of those planned developments designed to bring people together with common areas and activities. It could even describe the profession you are part of. These days, “community” is also defined very broadly as a group of people having a particular attribute in common (even if it’s immutable, and even if no other characteristic or value is shared). The forced isolation of the past few years combined with the nefarious plague of social media has brought together people (particularly kids and teens) desperate for connection, manifesting “communities” that are really destructive cultural contagions in disguise. 

There are myriad factors at play as to why, but our society is indeed starving for authentic community—a unified body of individuals. Now, you’re probably thinking that all the examples above can be defined as “unified bodies of individuals”—and this is a fact. But they all break down when the superficial aspects are removed to expose core values, needs, truth, and even motivation. Simple case in point: A housing development builds a pool and clubhouse to collect exorbitant HOA fees—they’re not all that concerned if residents actually use the facilities. And we’ve all seen how the “scientific community” has been at hardcore odds for the past several years (and it continues today)—there’s no real unity at all.

Followers of Jesus Christ have a built-in, solid foundation of common unity (community!)—we are unified in the Truth and bound together by the gospel of grace. Despite our respective pasts, we are made new creations in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17), and we wear a robe of righteousness (Isaiah 61:10). Whatever our family or country of origin, we are brothers and sisters—and children of God (1 John 3:1). No matter the level of melanin, we are all image-bearers of God enlivened by His breath (Genesis 1:27). 

Every Sunday, we join millions of other Christians around the world to pour out worship to the Lord, be sharpened by God’s Word, and encourage one another to walk in faith and Truth. Isn’t that amazing?! But we can’t isolate this experience to just Sundays and then jump back to living like the world Monday through Saturday. We have to create opportunities throughout the week to strengthen our bonds of unity and deepen this Kingdom community—especially as the god of this world gets more ferocious in his efforts to steal, kill, and destroy as his time gets short. The enemy’s (and culture’s) lies are coming at us fast and furiously. We must devote ourselves to God’s Word, to fellowship, to having meals together, and praying together (Acts 2:42). We’ve got to drop the nonessentials, focus on the gospel, and live in harmony with one another in accord with Jesus Christ—glorifying God with one voice (Romans 15:5-7). This is true community. And in the discord, divisiveness, and vitriol of this world, it’s more vital than ever that we hold fast to Christian unity and stand resolved on the firm foundation of Jesus Christ.

Lord, You and You alone are the solid foundation of true community. May we be intentional about creating common unity with our brothers and sisters in Christ.

But to me it is a very small thing that I may be examined by you, or by any human court…but the one who examines me is the Lord.

1 Corinthians 4:3-4

If you’ve been a follower of Christ for a while, and you’re regularly spending time in the Bible (hope you are!), then you’ve likely experienced the truth of Hebrews 4:12: For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. It’s weird to think of a book being “living and active”—but this isn’t just any book. It’s God’s breathed-out Word. (Take a look at Psalm 119 for all kinds of goodness about how we should view and handle what God has to say.)

With this “living” document, have you ever been reading verses you’ve studied in the past (maybe even numerous times—for years) only to see a phrase or word you’ve not seen before? It’s amazing how the Holy Spirit opens our eyes to additional Scriptural truths as our sanctification walk progresses. This happened to me the other night during a teaching from a visiting pastor to our church.

I’ve read Corinthians (both letters) numerous times over the past 25 years—like all 13 books from Paul, these are instructive, inspiring, and convicting. But the first 5 verses of 1 Corinthians, chapter 4 “suddenly” had new stuff in there. My Bible underlining and circling revealed my initial focus on being a trustworthy servant of Christ and steward of God’s truth. But the other night, the Holy Spirit opened up verses 3 and 4 in a powerful way.

Based on the power of the gospel, we are completely transformed. Paul and the other New Testament writers make it clear that the Great Exchange gives us a new identity in Christ. We become children of God, royal, holy, righteous (1 Peter 2:9; John 1:12; 2 Corinthians 5:21). And, with this understanding, Paul springboards into verse 3: “But to me it is a very small thing that I may be examined by you.” Paul is basically saying, “I am free of your opinion of me!” How amazing is this revelation? How much time do we spend worrying about what everyone else thinks about us? Our culture, in fact, is all about the likes and comments. We perform to accumulate the accolades of people we don’t even know. But, as followers of Jesus, we don’t have to care about that. At all. 

“The one who examines me is the Lord,” Paul emphasizes. The only One whose opinion matters is God! And we have already been defined by Him, remember? So, as believers, we go from men-pleasers to God-pleasers (Galatians 1:10; 1 Thessalonians 2:4). We are free to focus on walking according to God’s Word, doing life for His glory as ambassadors of the Kingdom. Free from the accusations—and acclaims—of others, as we follow Jesus on the Narrow Path against the cultural tide. 

Free. Following, trusting, and pleasing God—in confidence (Psalm 56:11; Psalm 118:6; Hebrews 13:6). The mocking of the world? The not-so-subtle eyerolls we get? The outright persecution because we follow the Lord’s commands? Friend, join me in standing stand firm on this beautiful fact: it’s a very small thing. 

Lord, I love You and trust You—what can man do to me? Help me live for You, the Audience of One (Colossians 3:23-24), knowing that the judgments, taunts, even accolades of this world are nothing.

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

Romans 1:16

Have you been thinking about your calling as an everyday evangelist? I sure have. Even though I’ve been a follower of Jesus Christ for over 25 years, my go-to line (um, excuse) has been, “Well, I don’t have the gift of evangelism.” Yes, I stand firm on my faith. I love God’s Word and I walk in the direction of obedience—repenting when I miss the mark (because I do daily). Shining my light for God’s glory is my thing (Matthew 5:16). I know the reason for my hope (1 Peter 3:15)—I was blind, and now I see. I was dead, and now I am alive with Christ (Ephesians 2:1-10). I have my testimony and the Gospel tattooed on my body for everyone to see, for goodness’ sake! But to weave all this Truth into words during a videocall with coworkers? To find openings in daily conversation with acquaintances to share the Good News? Well, that’s a different story.

No matter when our respective surrendering to Jesus happened, we are called to evangelize. We don’t need a theology degree or be able to quote verse and address at will. And we certainly don’t need to have all the answers. We have OUR STORY—our reason for hope: We used to live like the world, but we encountered the Living God and were changed. As my pastor says, “We’ve been hit by the grace train, and nothing is the same.” So, you and I can do this thing. 

So, what does everyday evangelism look like for those of us less bold than the Apostle Paul—or even my friend Wendy? Let me explain what it could be by sharing a very recent example from my own life.

There’s a new guy working the overnight shift at my gym, so his last hours coincide to my early-morning workout time. Having introduced ourselves just after he started, we chat a little as I’m on my way in and out. He’s a sweet guy, and I’ve learned that he works 9pm to 6am at the gym, and he’s currently pursuing a degree in cybersecurity. Well, as I was leaving the gym the other day, I gave him my usual, “Have an awesome day, Shariff!” But instead of him responding, “You too, Julianne,” he made a comment to me that was a literal softball opening—like the Lord said, “Ok, girl, heeeeeeeere you go!” Shariff said to me, “Julianne, you have such a great smile—a joy that flows right out of you.” To this, I boldly responded, “Shariff—that’s the joy of the Lord! See, I was dead! Now I’m alive with Christ—and He has changed everything for me.”

But that’s not what I said. What I actually said was something deflective and dumb, like, “Well, aren’t most of us early-rising-gym-goers happy and friendly?” And as soon as I walked out the door, I did the proverbial forehead slap of regret. I had missed a perfect (and easy) opportunity to share the reason for my hope and joy! 

Friend, everyday evangelism can be simple. It’s a matter of being cognizant of these little moments as we walk through our days—at work, at the store, and, yes, at the gym. And because we have the resurrection power of the Holy Spirit living in us, it can be easy too! But we have to stay yielded to Him and ask for His help to loose our tongue. So, today, let’s do this. Let’s walk through the wide-open doors the Lord provides, so that we can take up the torch of our Great Commission.

Lord, I am not ashamed of the Gospel or of You. So, make me bold in the everyday moments of my day to give reason for my hope.

And He said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.

Mark 16:15

Have you ever met a great evangelist? Maybe in your lifetime you’ve had an opportunity to shake hands with a Billy-Graham-level Gospel-giver (maybe Billy Graham himself!). Even if only on TV or online, it’s always inspiring to experience the power of the life-changing message of salvation given with passion and clarity. My pastor, who launched our Bible-based church about a decade ago, noted in a recent sermon that more than 10,000 people have surrendered their lives to Jesus in that time! The Lord has given our pastor an enormous platform (and gifting), and the Holy Spirit is doing huge things through his leadership. It’s amazing to be part of this movement of God and breathtaking to view its impact firsthand—especially how the Gospel is intricately woven into every sermon, every gathering.

Of course, inspiration is no further away than our Bible—the go-to example being the Apostle Paul, who always did whatever it took to share the Gospel (1 Corinthians 9:22). You can read Acts, as well as the 13 books in the Bible written by him to learn more. 

“Oh,” you may be thinking, “that’s PAUL! I can’t be that bold.” Well, my friend Wendy would beg to differ. This woman has the gift of evangelism oozing out of her every pore. She goes out to dinner, and the server will hear about Jesus. Gas station coffee run before work? The three circles will no doubt be scrawled on a napkin for the cashier. Her immense enthusiasm and sheer joy to tell others about the free gift of salvation is truly astonishing. Again, you may be thinking, “Well, evangelism is her gift—that’s not mine.” Friend, I hear you…

It’s true that upon salvation, believers are gifted differently by the Holy Spirit (Romans 12:6-8; 1 Peter 4:10-11; 1 Corinthians 12:4-7). And we must each recognize how the Lord has equipped us to glorify Him and impact others for the Kingdom—and, of course, we must be using those gifts accordingly. That said, the Great Commission has been given to every Christian (Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:19-20). (I’m going to start preaching to myself now…you can listen if you want.)

If you have made Jesus your Lord and Savior, you are an evangelist. 

Yes, we’re to shine our light before others (Matthew 5:16). Yes, we are to show love to one another, so everyone will know we’re a Christian (John 13:35). But we’re also to open our mouth and share the Truth with words (Romans 10:17). In fact, if we’re living differently than the world, others should notice! And when they do, many will comment about it—or outright ask. In 1 Peter 3:15, we’re told to always be ready to tell others the reason for our hope! This is everyday evangelism—a readiness to share the why behind our set-apartness, our joy, our hope.

So, let me ask: Are you ready? Am I?

Lord, You have called me to be a disciple who makes disciples. Prepare my heart, mind, and mouth to share the eternity-changing Truth of Jesus.

“Who is like you, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders?

Exodus 15:11

There is a song we sing at my church (cowritten by one of our music ministers, along with Shane & Shane) called Wholly Yours (Ephesians 3:18-19)—you can listen to it here. The words are very powerful, for sure, but it made me start thinking even more about who God is…and who we are to be because of who He is—and what He’s done.

God is holy—and only God. In Hebrew, the word for holy is “godesh”, meaning “apartness, sacredness, or separateness”. It’s used over 400 times in the Old Testament to describe God as completely holy, sacred, set apart, and separate from His creation.¹ He is God, and we are not. That’s why the greatest offense to our Holy God is when people elevate anything or anyone (including ourselves) above Him.

As believers, we could literally spend all our prayer and worship time simply praising God for His “set-apartness”—for His glory, majesty, and greatness (1 Chronicles 29:11; Psalm 97:1-6; Psalm 145:5; Isaiah 6:3; Revelation 4:11). We can sing hymns of His holiness written throughout the generations, from Moses to the Puritans to Chris Tomlin. And we all need to do just that on a regular basis!

In addition to our response of praise to God for His holiness, there is a second response—a necessary outflow that comes from acknowledging this unfathomable attribute of God: a desire to be wholly His. Not only does the overwhelming majesty of His creation cause us to drop our jaws in awe and wonder, but His absolute above-all-ness ought to also drop us to our knees in submission from the sheer weight of His glory. 

See, we were created to be in union with Him. But, because of sin, that eternal communion was broken—we could no longer be in the presence of a perfectly holy God. Separation ensued, and death entered the world. But God. In order to reconcile Himself to us, God sent Jesus to live a perfectly holy life (that we couldn’t live), die the death we deserve (because of God’s perfect righteousness), and rise in victory to forever defeat sin and death. When we surrender to Jesus as Lord and Savior, we are wrapped in His robe of righteousness. In other words, when God looks at us, He sees the holiness of Jesus.

Jesus made a way of reconciliation. We were dead, and now we are alive in Christ. We were DEAD! Not “bad” made “good”…not merely “dirty” made “clean”…dead made alive. Now we are co-heirs with Christ, recipients of the boundless riches of God’s grace (Ephesians 2:1-10).

Through the holiness of Jesus, we are made holy in the eyes of our holy God. It’s truly mind-blowing. So, let me ask you this: If you have accepted this gift of forgiveness, mercy, and saving grace from our holy God, have you given yourself wholly to Him in response?

Lord, if I am holding back forgiveness, mercy, or any part of myself from You—whether idolatry of another, of stuff, or of self—I turn away from that now! I surrender wholly to You, for You are holy.