Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket. Instead, they put it on top of a lampstand, and it shines on all who are in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before people, so they can see the good things you do and praise your Father who is in heaven. – Matthew 5:15-16

In my Saturday Bible study this morning, we talked about the idea of “holiness.” We had a positive, wide-ranging, conversation about what holiness implies, and about the difficulties inherent in any serious consideration of what it means for us – Dan, Bob, David, Tim, Tom, John, Derek, and Ed – to practice holiness at any level.

I believe the implications pivot on our understanding of the word. In my book 10 Life-Charged Words I essentially explained the practice of holiness as, “Living in a way that tells the truth about the Good News of Jesus.” In other words, being holy means reflecting something of Jesus, or literally being compelling evidence (“Exhibit-A”) that God’s reconciling love through Jesus is credible, available, transformational, and invitational.

We are called to be compelling evidence that God’s reconciling love through Jesus is credible, available, transformational, and invitational.

Holiness is not perfection, so much as it is orientation. If our orientation is toward God, and our direction is that of following Jesus, then our disposition is more likely to lean toward holiness.

If our orientation is toward God, and our direction is that of following Jesus, then our disposition is more likely to lean toward holiness.

The great challenge for us as Christian men is to live into our salvation, rather than simply check it off as something we have achieved. When we approach our day to day lives as an opportunity to tell the truth about the Gospel of Love, simply be being, then we are already embracing the call to holiness.

We are God’s dearly beloved children. And, just like these daffodils were created to bloom with unapologetic brilliance, we were created to tell the story of God’s great love for us. Blooming, for me, necessarily involves living for Jesus.

I am loved, forgiven, and set free; it makes sense, then, to stand in the light, and to reflect the light so that everyone can see more clearly.

You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord, so live your life as children of light. Light produces fruit that consists of every sort of goodness, justice, and truth. – Ephesians 5:8-9

Peace, in every way; and holiness too – DEREK