"What Does God Think Of You?"

  Holiness is demanded by God because of our relationship to Him. Peter spoke openly about the holiness of a saint that our behavior is to be a behavior that is holy (I Pet. 1:15-16). Where does that leave us? Fearful at times. We don't want to come across to others as self-righteous or not seen as one who 'judges' the sins of others. What we seem to miss is when we judge the sin of another, we also are standing in judgment against our own sin and pursuing holiness. Listen, it's not a sinful hypocrisy to pursue a purer, stronger, more honorable lifestyle than we now possess if what we do is because of our Lord Jesus Christ!

  It's not hard to understand that we don't want people to see us as smug or 'holier than thou' in their attitudes. But let's think about this. If we allow fear to hold us back from pursuing the holy things of God, isn't that denying who and whose we are? We are not to water down what we have been called to be in our behavior and attitude. We can't join with others in their sins or smile at wickedness. Where are we missing it?

  We are overtaken too much by what others think than what God has called us to in relationship to Himself. God's holiness in our lives takes a back seat. I'm not talking about acting like we are above others or giving out the impression that we are above sin. We shouldn't be acting as if sin and ourselves are complete strangers while condemning others. We all have sinned. We all have need of the cleansing blood of Jesus but to some, that has become an excuse NOT to pursue holiness in their behavior. Because they know their sin and weaknesses they approach their lives with that mindset never reaching for the a life of holy behavior. When holiness is called upon and their behavior isn't striving for that, they simply shoot the person down with their tongues.

  Where has this led us? To the mind set of, "We're no better than anyone else!" That's a statement lacking God. We are fearful of being 'saintly.' We don't want to appear too different from others, nor sound too righteous so we begin to protect us and our reputations before the eyes of others. God's reputation, with whom we have been called into fellowship with, is set aside. This must disappoint God greatly! So here we are, not overly concerned about holy behavior after being sanctified in Christ Jesus, saints by calling and now to reflect His holiness in our behavior. We are concerned more with what others think of us and God is pushed to the side. Our eye is not to be on people and what they think about us as it is to be on God and what He thinks about us!