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"Take time to be holy."  It's a famous phrase.  There's a song also with the same title.  Here is the essence of it for you today and the implications that must follow.  God has washed us in His Blood and made us share in His Holiness; partakers of His Divine nature as the apostle Peter puts it.  However, we must live and walk in that holiness and seek to go deeper and deeper in that experience.  For it is a vast ocean to be explored and experienced.  It is not difficult to digest when we have the right desire and motive.

It involves a desire and dedication to be like Jesus and share in His supernatural plans for the perfecting of our own character in holiness and subsequently, sharing in our Best Friend's Own secret plans for the redemption of our generation.  Holiness is the only way to see Him. (Heb 12:14)

To seek God takes time as well as dedication.  If you are dedicated to living holy, then the things of God will become a priority.  It will be a delight.  A refreshing delight in the sunshine of His Love.

We need to relax in Jesus Presence.  We are so busy these days.  A lot of distractions and necessary duties.  But, inside the peace and true purpose gets sapped out of us.  God has seated us in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus (Colossians 3) and we have to, " seek those things which are above."  We need to realize what we are really about every day of our life in this passing, perishing world. We need to breathe holiness in, so it can be breathed out to this filthy world.  We've got to make time for this.  We need to bask in His Love, to spend a quiet and delightful, purposeful time with the Lord Who loves us so much and wants to use us.  Lost in His Wonder, as it were.

A simple prayer, "Lord, help me to be holy" is not sufficient.  Actions must follow in faith.  We must train our body and mind and spirit towards and in holiness.  "...exercise thyself rather unto godliness."

(1 Timothy 4:7b)  Rejecting the foolish talk and things of this world and feeding rather on the things of God, i.e. spiritual food from the Word.

We need to turn our daily attention toward how we can be more and more holy like Jesus.  Then people will want to be like that too and want the things of God.  The things of the world only then will become strangely dim as its true value is revealed.

Happiness follows holiness and holiness is gained when we spend time with the Holy One of Israel.  We get transformed and begin to reflect His Glory in this way.

Are you happy in Jesus today? Jesus Christ's Presence and favor is truly refreshing.  When was the last time you felt that way? 

We need to think in terms of Eternity.  One man prayed, "O Lord, please stamp eternity on my eyelids."  He meant that he wanted to see and think like God does. Far beyond his own little world and amusements and troubles.  He wanted to become a co-laborer with the Lord in the grand scheme of His Purpose for Eternity.  He wanted to be God's friend just like Abraham.  What a wonderful request and God granted it and he is the leader of a tremendous christian relief organization today for the needy children of the world! If that Christian leader was not interested in holiness, he would not have been answered by God in that way or entrusted by the Lord with His Holy Purpose in that way.  Do you want such a holy desire to live and please and work for God?  To be a true friend of God?  I do. 

The wonderful truth is that you can have that heavenly purpose and really feel peace and refreshing by the Holy Spirit.  You can desire and gain holiness in the presence of your Best Friend even today and right now if you ...

Take time to be holy!

Take time to be holy, speak oft with thy Lord;
Abide in Him always, and feed on His Word.
Make friends of God’s children, help those who are weak,
Forgetting in nothing His blessing to seek.

Take time to be holy, the world rushes on;
Spend much time in secret, with Jesus alone.
By looking to Jesus, like Him thou shalt be;
Thy friends in thy conduct His likeness shall see.

Take time to be holy, let Him be thy Guide;
And run not before Him, whatever betide.
In joy or in sorrow, still follow the Lord,
And, looking to Jesus, still trust in His Word.

Take time to be holy, be calm in thy soul,
Each thought and each motive beneath His control.
Thus led by His Spirit to fountains of love,
Thou soon shalt be fitted for service above.

words of song by William D. Longstaff (circa 1882)

© 2003 Pastor Pradeep Emmanuel Stephen

[Permission is granted to duplicate this article in its entirety, but only without additions, alterations or omissions of any kind, including the author and ministry name at the end.]