Live Worthy Of Your Calling- Just A Girl Who Loves Jesus Week 3
- Kelly Kirstein
- Oct 23, 2024
- 5 min read
Updated: Jul 30
Ready to Learn?
This post can help you recognize where you are being too hard on yourself. Do you want to be filled with light and wholeness?
Let's talk about holy living and the importance of sanctification
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What is Sanctification? Why Does It Matter?
Just A Girl Who Loves Jesus
This Post Helps You Complete Week 3
Live Worthy of Your Calling
Despite the Bible containing a long list of verses about sanctification most of Christians don't know what it means. When you hear the phrase called to holy living, it might stir up resistance inside you.
If I were going to stereotype someone living a holy lifestyle, I would probably put up a picture of a nun. I mean no disrespect to the women who have given their lives to be nuns.
Another basic assumption could also be ridged or judgmental. The reality is that couldn't be farther from the truth. The stereotype is more a strict religious ritual practice more than what the New Testament teaches about living as a means of connection to God.
When I googled holy living, seeing the images that came up, I realized the internet had a better picture of holy living than the negative stereotype. It showed people with their hands up in surrender, the Bible, the cross, light, imagery of church, and other things I associate with connecting with the spirit of God.
Rule following is tedious and terrible because it isn't about connecting with Jesus. Sadly, most believers don't invest the time and effort to understand how to do that.
What the Bible Explains about Holiness:
Hebrews 12:14 explains that holiness allows us to see the Lord. Without holiness no one will see the Lord.
Romans 6:22 Once you are set free from sin, God becomes your authority. The benefit you reap leads to holiness and the result is eternal life.
Hebrews 12:10 God disciplines us that we may share in his holiness.
2 Corinthians 7:1 Sin contaminates us, but we can purify ourselves body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.
Romans 6:19 we are called to offer ourselves as slaves to righteousness leading to holiness.
Holy Living Opens Your Eyes to the Calling on Your Lives
Each of us has a unique calling, a purpose that gives our lives meaning and direction. Living worthy of this calling means you make choices that lines up with who God created you to be.
Instead, it is about aligning our thoughts and actions with what Christ would say about us to help . It’s about recognizing God’s design for our lives and going after it through letting go of things that don't belong to you.
Have you ever gazed into someone's eyes and caught a glimpse of their heart? There are a variety of reason people have darkness in their eyes. Many times it wasn't their fault.
Yet, when they choose to partner with the hurt or anger, allowing it to lead their lives, it can lead them to do really mean things. That's when hurt people hurt other people.
As a believer in Christ you have to be diligent to do the work to bring everything before Jesus to allow him to help you to know what to keep and what to let go of.
The definition of Holy Living is letting go of anything that didn't come from Jesus or doesn't line up with his kingdom.
Galatians 2:20 explains that we have been crucified with Christ. We are called to righteousness comes through him.
Anything outside of God brings darkness, sin, & ruin into our lives.
Make Space to Think About How You See Yourself
Let's circle back to the idea that you need to the idea that your thoughts about yourself need to align with God's thoughts about you. Why does that matter?
If you have a hard time saying something positive about yourself, Houston we have a problem!
A negative self-perception means you have some work to do. It's like having cotton in your ears and blinders over your eyes.
God's intentions and plans for you were established even before your birth (Psalm 139:16). To fully embrace who He designed you to be, your heart must align with His and discover the gifts and passions he has put within you.
It's easy to let past experiences or others' opinions shape your identity. However, for those who are part of the Kingdom of God, only God has the authority to define who you are. It's the only safe place to see yourself.
Clinging to negative thoughts and actions is like tainting a bottle of purified water with toilet water; it will adversely affect your daily life if you allow anything that contradicts God's view of you.
By choosing Christ and surrendering everything to God, spiritual cleansing and restoration to wholeness begin. In other words, through sanctification you can live in a way that allows you to see and hear God.
Week 3
Faith In Action
Daily Mental Health Minute: Live Worthy of Your Calling (Pg. 70)
Make a note each day how you pursed sanctification
(See page 27 in your study for the meaning of sanctification.)
The Shift to a Higher Way of Thinking
Additional Notes & Thoughts (pg. 30)
Read two of the scriptures below that call believers to holy living.
How do you think holy living could help you feel whole?
Take a few a few moments to work through any negative feelings you may have about holy living.
I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. (Ephesians 4:1 NIV)
It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. (1 Corinthians 1:30 NIV)
For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. (1 Thessalonians 4:7 NIV)
encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory. (1 Thessalonians 2:12 NIV)
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