FCA ResourcesDevotional
In Pursuit Of
Ready
"But 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
Set
Championships, money, grades, trophies, recognition. These are all things we are pursuing these days. On the surface, these things are not inherently bad, but are we consumed by these pursuits? I see nothing wrong with wanting good grades, to be good in sports and ultimately to win a championship, but those should not be our end-all pursuits.
I have been reading an old book that I got from my brother Jim for my high school graduation. I read it then, and it had very little impact on my life. But 24 years later Jerry Bridges' book "The Pursuit of Holiness" has rekindled a light that had gotten dim over these past years. One of my favorite quotes from the book is, "God does not require a perfect, sinless life to have fellowship with Him, but He does require that we be serious about holiness, that we grieve over sin in our lives instead of justifying it, and that we earnestly pursue holiness as a way of life." Like the old "Batman" shows I got a BAM, SMACK, POW right upside my head to wake me up to what we all need to be pursuing in life.
As an athlete, coach, student or parent, whatever your position in life is right now, ask yourself what you are pursuing on a daily basis outside your sporting life. To many times we become defeated by sin and then justify it because of whatever life crisis we might be going through. But that just doesn't cut it by His standard. Our problem is that we start living by the world's standards, not God's. His standard is pretty simple. "Be Holy, because I am Holy." We are to pursue holiness in our lives. Okay, so it doesn't sound as glamorous as pursuing championship rings or new Hummers, but those things won't get us any closer to God. We can pursue anything in life, but the only pursuit that will make an eternal difference is your pursuit of holiness.
Remember, God has called every Christian to a holy life, there is no getting around it no matter how hard you try. The sooner you learn that and start living it out, the better.
Go
1. Is there any evidence of holiness in your life?
2. Do you desire to be holy or even strive after it?
3. Does your sin bother you enough to change and to seek the help God wants to give you?
Workout
Genesis 2:3
Exodus 15:11
Matthew 7:21-23
1 Thessalonians 4:4
Bible Reference:
1 Peter 1