because i belong to god

14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15 What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17 Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, 18 and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.” 2 Corinthians 6:14-18

Have you ever drawn a line around your life and said, “I will go no further. I belong to God and I'm going to live God's way”?

That's what it means to be holy. Second Corinthians 6:16-17 describes holiness as being “separate.” The apostle Paul wrote, “We are the temple of the living God; as God said, 'I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them,' says the Lord.”

"Go out . . . and be separate.” The word means “to mark off a boundary.” Separation is holiness in action. “I won't go there; I don't look at that. Because I belong to God, I won't tolerate that in my life. I've made my choice and by God's grace I'm not going back.”

Living a holy life begins by building convictions and living within the lines you've drawn around them. If you haven't established your own boundaries based on God's Word, you're going to struggle for sure. You might do okay for a season, but if you don't heed God's call to act differently, you'll eventually waffle right back into that old pattern of failure.

Some might say, “Well, I just let my conscience be my guide.” But your conscience can only sound the alarm about a conviction that you've established. Unless you're regularly in God's Word, forming convictions and drawing boundaries about what you believe to be right and wrong, your conscience can't speak. It's only useful as a reminder system for what you've already ascertained based on God's Word.

Are you ready to gain victory in a particular area of persistent sin? Listen to God's tender call to come out: “Be done with that. It doesn't belong in the life of my child."

And hear God's command: “You shall be holy, for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:16). There's joy and blessing and life to the fullest when you respond to God's holy call on your life. —James MacDonald walkintheword.com

seeking: Father, what has your holiness just revealed in my heart and mind? How have I seen you in a new and glorious light?

responding: What lines have I drawn around my life? What is off limits? What won't I tolerate in my speech, vision, and habits from this day forward?

God, you have revealed yourself in your Word as a holy and righteous God. Forgive me for my glib rationalizations and indifference to the holy call that you have placed on my life. Give me a fresh, vital view of your exalted holy nature. In Jesus' name, amen.

following: Make the choice to live God's holy way.

our journey