articlesforchristians

Christians are called to live Holy lives. In Leviticus 19:2 it says, “Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be holy: for I the Lord your God am holy.” Here it is plain to see that the Israelites were called to live Holy Lives. Look at Exodus 15:5-6 Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.

Unfortunately, in Exodus 20:18-19 is says, “And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off. And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die.”

Later they broke the covenant by sinning.

Today Christians are once again offered the chance to be a kingdom of Priests.

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light; Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. 1 Peter 2:9-10

Christians are called to be a Holy Nation. That does not mean that we always will live in a Holy Nation. We are collectively the Holy Nation. Christians should have more allegiance to our heavenly Kingdom than any other nation.

Christians are to be a royal priesthood. The royal part says that we are children of the King. Therefore, we should act prince and princes. That does not mean be snobby, stuck up, or rude. It means that we should be ambassadors for Christ. Remember that ambassadors represent the nation that they are sent from. We are on this earth, but are home is not here. We are only passing through. As we pass through, we are called to represent Christ to those we come into contact with.

The priesthood part means that we are allowed to come boldly before the throne room of God through prayer anytime we want. We can and should talk with him daily about what is going on in the land that we are currently living in.

As representators of God, we are called to live Holy lives. See 1 Thessalonians 4:7 “For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.”

Men and Women alike are called to live a life of Holiness as part of the kingdom of Priests.

• I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting. In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works. 1 Peter 2:8-10

Notice that men are to pray lifting up Holy hands. They are to do this without wrath and doubting. In other words, men are to lead in prayer. They are not called to lift their hands in wrath.

• wrath (meaning according to the dictionary)
  • strong vengeful anger or indignation
  • retributory punishment for an offense or a crime : divine chastisement

All this violence that men are seen doing is not of God. Men are called to pray, not hit or act in anger.

Women are to be in like manner. This means women should pray as well without wrath or doubting. Women are also instructed to adorn themselves in modest apparel. This means that women should not look like the world’s ideas of high fashion. They are to dress in a way as professing godliness, not worldliness.

Holiness should be a defining trademark of how all Christians live. This Holiness should be inward as well as outward. Just an outward appearance of holiness does not cut it because God sees our heart. However, the statement: God knows my heart is getting old.

• Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Matthew 7:18

Bad trees don’t produce good fruit; and good trees don’t produce bad fruit. So, if your heart is clean the fruit: your behavior, appearance, and speech should be getting better and better. This staying the same is not cutting it. We are called to be in the world not of the world. Noticed what Jesus prayed in John 17:15-16:  I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

Stop acting like the rest of the world and start living Holy Lives like as an ambassador of the Heavenly Father.