Day 5: Holiness Unto the Lord
Week 1: Awakening & Consecration
“For it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am Holy.’”
In today's verse, the apostle Peter quotes from Leviticus. He reminds believers that holiness is not an Old Testament idea we can now ignore. It is rooted in the very nature of God. He is Holy. That means He is utterly pure, set apart, beautiful in character, and completely free from sin. When He saves us, He does not just forgive our past; He calls us to share His character.
Belonging and Desire
In a world that mocks holiness, this call can feel heavy. But holiness is really about belonging. To be holy is to be "set apart" for God. In his book The Pursuit of God, Tozer notes that the pure in heart are those who have "one supreme desire" that rules all other desires. Holiness is not about never enjoying anything. It is about wanting God more than anything and letting that desire shape our choices.
Protection in Warfare
Holiness also protects us in spiritual warfare. In his book Demons and Deliverance, Hammond points out that Jesus could say, "The prince of this world is coming. He has no hold over me." There was nothing in Jesus that agreed with the devil’s nature.
In Christ, we are declared righteous, but we are also called to live out that righteousness in practice. When we stubbornly cling to sin, we give the enemy footholds. When we walk in holiness, those footholds are removed.
Practical Holiness at ANCC
Holiness in ANCC must be practical. It affects every area of our lives:
How we speak to our spouses and children.
How we handle conflict.
How we steward money.
How leaders lead.
How members behave when no one is watching.
What we watch, how we joke, and what we applaud.
Our vision is to be a place where people are always growing in their faith, aiming to improve every aspect of their lives, and getting closer to God. Holiness is at the heart of that growth.
Empowered by Grace
This call is not meant to crush you. God never commands what He is not ready to empower. The Holy Spirit lives in you to write God’s law on your heart and to produce fruit like love, joy, peace, and self-control. He is there to help you say "no" to sin. When you fail, you run to the cross, not away from it. When you stand, you thank His grace.
Let Us Pray
Heavenly Father, thank You that You are both holy and full of love. You do not call me into cold religion, but into a life that reflects Your character. I ask You to make me holy in my thoughts, words, and actions.
Where I have treated sin lightly, convict me. Where I have felt condemned and hopeless, encourage me. Let ANCC be a holy church, not self-righteous, but honestly set apart for You. In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.