Themes, resolutions, decisions, plans, goals; a New Year.
It all escapes me, sometimes. There's a part of me that wants to jump in, with both feet and a big splash. "It's a great time to start something new - fresh - clean!" Yep. I get that. I love it - really, I do. New Years IS a time to reset parts of your life - or, your WHOLE life, if so inclined.
Aaand, so is any other day. So, a part of me feels like the hoopla of New Year's resolutions is simply - recycled. Doomed for a crash and burn. What a party-pooper. I know. So - for a moment I'm going to think of New Year's Day as any other day - and think of it in the most uncynical of ways. EVERY DAY is NEW.
One this new day, I am hearing a voice. The voice of my King calling me to something that is quite daunting. Holiness. As a believer and follower of Christ, I know that this pursuit is many things; challenging, required, worthwhile, hard but good. Lately, I have become aware of a new way to look at it. Attainable.
I've bought into a lie that holiness IS perfect behaviour - or perfect behaviour is holiness - and that, I know, is NOT attainable in this life. So, I compromise. Daily. Multiple times daily. Perfect behaviour - sinlessness - is not attainable. This is a fact. I know that Christ has made ME, my spirit, perfect through his sacrifice. I have been redeemed. My slate is washed clean. But I dirty it all of the time. And His grace is there to wipe it clean again.
Here's the thing i'm beginning to see more clearly. I CAN do things to keep from dirtying my slate. Or in another way of looking at it; My vessel - that which the Holy Spirit has entered through my declaration of accepting Jesus' sacrifice, and surrendering to His Lordship - can be kept clean. My earnest endeavors to live in a godly manner ARE seen by my Father, and He delights in them.
It's an interesting blend of facts. I cannot make myself holy. I cannot present a clean vessel in order to earn my way into the kingdom. Only by accepting Jesus sacrifice, making Him Lord in my life brings me into the citizenship of His kingdom. Only this will make me a daughter of the One True God - Father. But in my devotion, in my obedience - out of love born from this immeasurable gift - I can, through the power of grace and the constant direction of the Holy Spirit, make the decisions, work or abstain, and live in such a manner that keeps my vessel clean. My heart - His home.
He is coming for a holy bride, yes? He is. So this holiness is not unattainable. That simple fact alone has sparked a flame in me to pursue being this bride He comes for.
