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” (1 Pet. 1:15-16).

Even if there were no tangible benefits in this life for holy living, we are still called to holiness. The reason is that our calling is not rooted in earthly rewards but in the holy character of God. 

Because he created us in his image, united us to himself by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, and transforms us more like himself by the work of the Holy Spirit, our lives should reflect our God. Our salvation is really just the start of a process of becoming more and more like him.

It’s possible, of course, that we may be called to live for God in situations where there is no apparent gain for us as we represent the character of the One who made and saves us. In those situations, we demonstrate that living for him is still better than bowing to any other pressure or priority of the world.

This is the high calling of every believer. We honor what is honorable in him because nothing gives us more pleasure than living for the One who gave his life for us. Out of love for him, every day we exchange old desires for new affections – and every day his love transforms these affections into priorities and personalities that are more and more like his!

So, even when we face ongoing challenges and temptations, the calling to holiness is not onerous or sad, but the privilege of walking more closely with the Savior we love in a way that pleases him and increasingly pleases us to do so.  

Prayer:
Lord, thank you giving me a holy calling that enables me to live for you and to show my love for you. Today, help me to be holy because you are holy and because it brings me joy so to live for the God who sent his Son to die for me.