practice

The title of this blog post came to me, and I’m not sure why or where it came from. I thought it was the title of a book. After searching, I realized it wasn’t. So, what does it mean to practice the Holy?

Practice means: to perform or work at repeatedly so as to become proficient to train by repeated exercises.

Do you ever get a sense God is calling you to a life of holiness? This means that in everything you do and say, there is no darkness. If so, it’s because this world needs pure light. Pure truth. Nothing dimmed or tainted by our filters or perceptions but unadulterated Truth from God, his Son, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and his word, the Bible. Practicing the Holy is an everyday exercise to the best of our ability so that we may become proficient at it.

People around the world are getting mixed messages—diluted truth. They need so much to see the absolute Truth! For example, when people encountered Jesus, they knew they had met an honest, pure, and loving man. They didn’t lie, make excuses, or work hard to redirect the attention off of them. They didn’t blame others, either. At that moment, they knew with all conviction that they needed Jesus in their lives. May it be the same when people encounter us.

“Being holy refers to something or someone set apart or consecrated for a specific purpose. In a religious context, striving for holiness means having a relationship with God defined by obedience to His will and being shaped to have His character. It makes the believer set apart from the evils of the world and useful for His kingdom.”
Christiananity.com

Holiness is not visible on the outside but an attitude of the heart. It’s not a uniform! It also is not a set of rules. What does not eating something on a particular day of the week have to do with God? Yes, in the Old Testament, God gave the Jewish people instructions not to eat certain animals, but I am convinced that was to keep them safe. Today, we know how to process animals so we do not get sick or die from eating them. Having a particular dress style or a list of rules is nothing but “religion,” and it has nothing to do with loving God, having a “relationship” with Him, loving others, or getting into heaven!

So roll up your sleeves, get your head in the game, be totally ready to receive the gift that’s coming when Jesus arrives. Don’t lazily slip back into those old grooves of evil, doing just what you feel like doing. You didn’t know any better then; you do now. As obedient children, let yourselves be pulled into a way of life shaped by God’s life, a life energetic and blazing with holiness. God said, “I am holy; you be holy.” 1 Pt. 1:13-16 (MSG)

Her parents just immigrated to America from India. She was three years old, and didn’t know any English. Now, a few months later, and being enrolled in a preschool she is learning a few words at a time. But when one of her co-students said to her, “I don’t like you and I don’t want to play with you” the toddler simply smiled and used body language to invite her to swing with her on the tire.

When I heard this true story I realized the beauty of not being able to speak or understand the language of hate, or of racism. To have the capacity to smile in the face of evil is a special gift. I could learn from the little precious girl from India.

I think, no, I know Jesus had this special gift. For when He was falsely accused, hated, spit upon, and betrayed He still managed to say, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”

A worthy goal that will take lots of practice to perfect, but think of the message it sends to the one spouting toxic words. A message of love. In any language!