The Pursuit of Holiness: Embracing Everyday Transformation

Holiness: An Everyday Pursuit

The pursuit of holiness is not a distant, unreachable goal for the Christian. Rather, it is a daily, ongoing process that takes place in the midst of our ordinary lives. Holiness is never far from home.

The Glories and Littles of the Christian Life

The Christian life is a paradoxical mixture of grandeur and mundanity, of the radical and the ordinary. Horatius Bonar, a nineteenth-century pastor, writes that the Christian life is “made up of daily littles” but is also “one of the greatest things on earth” (God’s Way of Holiness, 127).

Paul’s letters to the Ephesians and Colossians illustrate this paradoxical mixture. In the first half of these letters, Paul exalts in the glories of the gospel: Christ crucified, sins forgiven, enemies adopted, and devils defeated. But in the second half of these letters, he descends from these great heights and enters the realm of daily life: work, fellowship, conversations, and time management. In both the grandeur and the littles of the Christian life, holiness is to be pursued.

The Pursuit of Holiness in Everyday Life

The pursuit of holiness is not meant to be an abstract, theoretical concept. Rather, it is a practical, everyday pursuit. The pursuit of holiness involves the transformation of our thoughts, desires, and actions to align with God’s will and character.

Thoughts

The Bible teaches that our thoughts are important indicators of our spiritual condition. Proverbs 23:7 says, “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.” Therefore, the pursuit of holiness involves the transformation of our thought life. We are called to renew our minds and to think about what is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, and praiseworthy (Philippians 4:8).

Desires

Our desires are also important indicators of our spiritual condition. James 4:1-3 says, “What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel…You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.” The pursuit of holiness involves the transformation of our desires to align with God’s will and character.

Actions

Finally, our actions are a crucial aspect of our pursuit of holiness. 1 Peter 1:15-16 says, “But as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy.’” Holiness is not simply a matter of our thoughts and desires, but it is also expressed in our actions. We are called to live in a way that reflects God’s character and will.

The Role of Community in the Pursuit of Holiness

The pursuit of holiness is not meant to be an individualistic endeavor. Rather, it is meant to be pursued in the context of Christian community. Hebrews 10:24-25 says, “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”

Christian community provides accountability, support, and encouragement in our pursuit of holiness. We are called to bear one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2) and to confess our sins to one another (James 5:16). In community, we are able to help one another grow in Christlikeness.

The Ultimate Goal of Holiness

The pursuit of holiness is not an end in itself, but rather it is a means to an end. The ultimate goal of holiness is to glorify God. 1 Corinthians 10:31 says, “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”

When we pursue holiness, we are reflecting God’s character and will to the world around us. We are demonstrating the beauty and goodness of God to those who do not know him. Ultimately, our pursuit of holiness is a way of glorifying God and pointing others to him.

Conclusion

Holiness is never far from home. The pursuit of holiness is a practical, everyday endeavor that involves the transformation of our thoughts, desires, and actions to align with God’s will and character. It is pursued in the context of Christian community and is ultimately aimed at glorifying God. As we pursue holiness in our everyday lives, we demonstrate the beauty and goodness of God to the world around us.