For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit. —1 Thessalonians 4:7-8
The call to holiness is easy to ignore in a world that lives by very different standards than God’s will revealed in the Scriptures. Satan gets us to compare our lifestyle with those around us, deluding us into devaluing our sins. However, the issue is not comparing our sins with others. The goal is to have a thankful heart, cleansed through Jesus’ work, being made holy more and more each day through the work of the Holy Spirit, and all because of God’s grace. Ignoring or toning down the Spirit’s call for our holiness is rejecting God, demeaning grace, and making light of Jesus’ sacrifice for our sins. Let’s be passionate about holiness in our lives because it is what God wants and what we should seek if our hearts recognize the gracious love God has given us in Jesus.