April 17, 2023: You Shall Be Holy

"...say to them, You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy." (Leviticus 19:2, ESV)

"You shall be holy." I always expect to hear those words with thunder and lightning, amid much fear and trepidation. Maybe it is because God is speaking, and His voice scares everyone. Or perhaps it is because some preaches preaching holiness put you just inside the gates of hell if you do something not so holy.  

There is a place called 'Happy Holiness!' God may have a deep booming voice, but His heart is so huge when it comes to holiness. He tells us to be holy because He is holy. God wants us to be like Him. He wants us to be like Him so that when others encounter us, they encounter Him. After all, His ways are so much higher than ours, and life is good when we walk in them! 

Happy holiness occurs when you are most in love with Jesus! I think it would be safe to say; Most people are most holy when they are most happy in Jesus! When our hearts are affectionately in love with Jesus living holy is easy. He is not trying to change my behavior. He is trying to change my heart with His love! When that happens, holiness is a by-product of Christ's love.
    
Psalm 16:11 declares that in your presence is fullness of joy, and at your right hand are pleasures forever more. The more joy and pleasure I find in God, the happier I find holiness to be. Being holy is not scary; it is an enjoyable thing found in loving Jesus more and more.