Saint Scott

I know – it sounds weird, right? And no, I am not being arrogant or demeaning or rude. I am trying to be clear and honest with myself and others. Because this is the reality: if we are in Christ, we are holy (being made holy). And that has some pretty important consequences for me and for everyone else in my life – and I mean everyone.

Why should I be nice to my neighbor? Why should I be polite to the person in the street – even when they are not polite to me? Why should I stop to help someone who has some trouble? Why should I go out of my way to help someone who I have never met? Why should I be good for someone I know – even after they have hurt me more than once?

Is it because I am human and that’s what humans do? Well... that is not what I see daily. And if it were what we see daily, then simply asking the question would not hold any interest or raise any eyebrows.

Is it because I am a ‘good’ person and if people were just good, then society would be better and we would all have a wonderful life? Well... I do hear this a lot. But no one seems to want to explain what ‘good’ is and these same ‘good’ people will say ‘no’ to some of the questions above because there is no reason to do it.

And this is where holiness enters the room. But remember – as I have mentioned before – our concept of ‘holy’ has been distorted. We look for people who are as perfect as we can imagine in some way – people who do more than any other in trying to follow God. But God tells me – and you – that WE are to be holy.

Holy is not reserved for the few who are really trying, are really good. The rest of us will never attain to that height of goodness and we should not expect to, we say. But God tells us:  “Just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.’”  1 Peter 1:15-16

And this impacts how I view everyone around me. God, who is holy, brought His holiness to me. He approached me. He made it possible for me to come to Him. He cleansed me in Jesus Christ. How then should I see other people? The things God touches become holy – set apart for His use. He has touched me and wants to use me. And when I accept people around me, when I am kind, polite, good – as my Father is to me – then I am bringing His holiness into this world. Not because I am holy in myself, but because I am allowing His holiness to live through me.

How I view others – everyone around me – must be based on how God views them. And God wants to save every one of them, as He did me. He loves them with a love that cannot fail. Other nations, other races, other socio-economic levels – these are things that separate. God is the one who is breaking down walls. He does this in Jesus Christ and He does this daily by working through me (and you) in our daily interactions with the people around us.

He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. ... In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord.  Ephesians 2:17-18, 21

Holy – Giving my best

When I was young, I was taught to always do my best. It didn’t matter what I was doing, I was to do my very best, try my hardest. So when I played little league baseball - even when I didn’t get to play – I did my very best. I encouraged my fellow team mates and murmeled “heeey batta, batta, batta” from the bench when the opposing team was up to bat. And what did it get me? I still didn’t get to play (this was before the PC police tried to make sure everyone got equal playing time).

At school things were different. I could study just before a test and cram things pretty well into my head just long enough to do well on the test. But I got good grades – so that was my best, wasn’t it?

Is it worth it to give your very best? Why should I? Do I give my best because I will receive more if I do? Or because people will like me better? Well, actually, people may like you less if you give your best. Workers who do not work as well as you (or do not want to work as hard as you) will not be happy with the attention your hard work brings to their shoddy work. And mightn’t it just happen that you get more work because you have shown that you can handle the load?

But I am missing the point if I think giving my best is for me – although it does have benefits for me. I give my best because God gives His best and I am His child. All the way through the Old Testament – and then repeated in the New – God tells us: Be holy, for I am holy. (Check out Leviticus and 1 Peter 1:15-16)

Can you imagine where I would be if God had only given just enough to get by? Just enough for whom? To get by what?

God sent us His only begotten Son who then gave His life for us to redeem us for all eternity. And He has sent His Holy Spirit to live in us and continually sanctify us (make us holy). It is therefore in my (new) nature to give my very best in all that I do. I am holy, because He is holy and living in (and through) me.

And this is making a difference in the world and in eternity. If I allow God’s holiness to live in me, He can reach many others through me. His holiness and grace can be clearly seen and He can be glorified. That is why I give my very best: at my work, in my studies, in my relationships, even in my sports activities. It is a part of who I am – a child of the King – every day.

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Colossians 3:23-24