SCRIPTURE: Mark 6:17-29
John was a holy man who did what was right… and he was beheaded for it; Jesus was a holy man who did what was right… and he was crucified for it.
Do you want to be a holy man or woman, are you committed to doing what is right?
Jesus invites us to live God’s way, to live life as God intended it to be lived.
This is kingdom living: to be honest, to generous, to be merciful, to be kind, to be a servant, to help those in need, to love all people including enemies, to forgive those who wrong us, to go the extra mile for those who take advantage of us, to refuse to compromise our integrity or morality, to speak out against injustice and stand up for the oppressed.
This is how Jesus live, this is why John was arrested, this is why people fear and opposed them.
Do you want to be a holy man or woman, are you committed to doing what is right?
The job description is clear and simple, but not easy, and it is guaranteed to provoke a negative response from some.
But it is God’s way, the way we were made to live, the way our world needs to live in order to experience peace and joy and blessing.
Jesus asks us to follow Him not because it is easy, not because it pays off in this life, not because we will find health and wealth and happiness… but because it is right and good and the only way God’s world will be restored.
In this life we will pay a price, but God’s promise is that those who choose this life, and pay this price in this life will be rewarded in the next life: they will see and experience the kind of world they lived this life for… forever!
Do you want to be a holy man or woman, are you committed to doing what is right?
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
Lord, one day we will not suffer for doing what is right and good. Until then, keep me focused on living like You, according to God’s will, trusting that You will use my holy life to rebuild your holy world, and restore your kingdom creation.