HolySample

A HOLY NATION.

YOU ARE A HOLY NATION.

In the Old Testament, God makes a covenant with the nation of Israel: that He would be their God, and they would be His people. This promise set them apart from all the people of the earth and entrusted them with the responsibility of demonstrating God’s glory to the world. This made Israel a Holy nation – a nation set apart.

Today we live under a new covenant, and because of what Jesus did on the cross, those who have faith in Him have been brought into that same promise. You and I are now a Holy nation. We have been set apart as God’s special people to bring the glory of God into our world.

Holiness is not reserved for the individual, but it carries a calling to the whole. Yes, we as individuals are called to live Holy lives, but it is important to understand that we are a part of a Holy nation. A group of people standing together, praying for each other, and encouraging one another to live out the life that God has called us to.

One of the biggest challenges to living a life that is Holy, is doing it alone.

Any time that I have wanted to bring change into my life, it has always been most successful when I have had others there by my side. Whether it was a gym buddy that kept me active, a foodie friend who helped keep my diet on track, or a mentor who would just encourage me in the right moment, I have found that the key to personal holiness is corporate accountability.

James 5 reminds us that healing comes into our lives when we pray for one another, but also when we confess our sins to one another. Prayer is powerful, but when coupled with accountability brings healing. When we bring things into the light, we find ourselves living in freedom, but when we keep things hidden in the dark, we become more bound. We then end up sabotaging the very thing we are trying to protect because we aren’t willing to live open lives.

The enemy will often get in our head and make us feel isolated. He can’t destroy you, so he will either distract you, or distance you. And this is why we need each other. We have been designed to be in community. Relationships that can encourage, build up, correct, and confront are foundational to help us live a life that is worthy of the call of God.

So many fail in ministry, in family and in life, all because they didn’t have anyone to be accountable with, or anyone that they could be submitted to. Being a part of a Holy community keeps us accountable to get to where God wants us to be. We need each other. We are better together. And together, we are His HOLY NATION.

QUESTIONS:

1.Who do I have in my life that can help me be accountable to living a Holy life?

2.What are some of the things that I would like to bring to light to those people?