Holiness - 1 Peter 1:15-16

          "...but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct..."

  Other than being an extremely 'big' word, do you have any idea of what this means? What it looks like? Whether or not you can do/be it? What is holiness? Or is that a 'quality' that only belongs to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit? Is it 'something' we all need to be concern with? Questions galore. The point that keeps echoing in my thinking is, but... if it wasn't something we should do, grow in we never would be told to do or be it. Not a question. A Statement.

  I read somewhere that holiness is a seeking to be like God. Not to be God or above others, but a striving to be like God, like His qualities. Peter is telling us in these verses how we should be living, the standard by which we can judge our words and actions. The problem for most people is... what is this? How can I act holy without acting holier than thou? What do I need to do to ...

  I think part of the problem is that we don't define the word operationally. We really don't know what holiness 'looks' like or we have this man made view that typically is expressed in an other worldly behavior. As much as I really don't have a complete understanding of holiness, I really think that the man made definition is totally off target. Holiness, I think, is expressed in our daily actions and reactions with others. My clue comes from Peter's words in verse 15 when he admonishes us to: "...be holy in all your conduct." It's a behavior.

  Leviticus 19:2, "You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy." Holy in this sense means set apart for holy purposes (Spirit Filled Life Bible). Separation is defined as from those things profane and defiling - not life, not people. And it is a dedication to everything holy and pure. The only real model we have is Jesus' life. How He reacted and interacted with people. And while we may not feel we are successful in following this, it can be a goal as long as we have the components 'right'. He cried and got angry so these behaviors aren't not holy. Look at what he cried over and was angry about - it never was an individual. We can't do this from our own power and strength, we have to rely on the One calling us to holiness.