Ordinary Holinessfeatured

Since I painted a picture titled “Holy,” I thought I should write a devotional on Holiness.  What was I thinking?  It was crazy to title a picture “Holy” – who can paint holiness?  To write about holiness I discovered is totally intimidating.  For starters, I’m not sure I know much about holiness at all.  I am certain it is not an adjective that any of my family and friends would use to describe me.  In fact, I am laughing as I write this sentence!

Nevertheless, holiness is something we are called to.  Leviticus 11:44 says, “I am the Lord your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy.”  I think it boils down to this: having been created in His image, we are to act as He acts so that He can relate to us and us to Him.  The problem is that He is divine and perfect, and I am most definitively NOT!  Thank goodness that through Christ’s work on the cross I am seen as holy by God.  2 Timothy 1: 9 says, “He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of His own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time.”

In my painting “Holy” I interpret the golden “mass” in the top right as the holiness of God and the much smaller mass in the lower left as the holiness of man.  Initially, these two masses were disconnected.  It wasn’t pleasing to the eye nor was it accurate Biblically!  It was through connecting the two parts of the painting that it began to seem right.  Through Christ’s death and resurrection I have an eternal connection with the Holy of Holies. His holiness can flow through that connection to me if I will let it.

Our holiness is a mysterious gift that assures our worthiness to be in relationship with God for eternity.  It is also a calling for us while still on earth.  For me, that’s the hard part!  As is usual in the Christian life, it can only be accomplished through the power of the Holy Spirit in us and involves the usual disciplines of prayer and Bible study.  But is that it?

Yesterday, my 2 oldest grandsons, Harrison and Cash, were participating in a swim meet.  I went to watch them swim and to help “wrangle” their little brother, Lane (age 2 ½).  We were “blessed” with frequent downpours during this swim meet.  During the first downpour, I wrapped Lane in a towel and he fell asleep in my arms.  I found a place to sit, held an umbrella over us and he slept through several more downpours, loud starter pistols, & cheering parents – about 2 hours.  We were both soaked to the skin! 

This morning as I was thinking about his nap time, it occurred to me that it was a sacred time – a sweet privilege and holy gift from a loving God.  Perhaps sacred moments aren’t reserved just for the big, well-orchestrated events – marriage ceremonies, Easter and Christmas services, Holy Communion, etc.  I think God provides us with many sacred moments to catch a glimpse of His holiness in the ordinary – a sunset, a phone call with a friend, a meal shared, the song of a bird, a hug from a child.  The list could be endless!

Perhaps, asking the Holy Spirit to open my eyes to the sacred and holy that is all around me is part of my journey to holiness.   I think it is worth a try!  How about you?

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