Is holiness your destiny?

As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but 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 Peter 1:14-16

Your destiny in God’s purpose is not happiness (although serving God is the best way to know and enjoy real, enduring happiness, or joy). Your destiny in God’s purpose is not health (though living a godly life contributes so much to better physical and emotional health). Your destiny in God’s purpose is to be holy as he is holy.

We are called to a standard of holiness that is above and beyond the holiness of the best person you know. No other human being is the basis for comparing or evaluating

BETHLEHEM EAST BAPTIST CHURCH

MIKE McElroy Columnist

our own holiness. The finest example of godly holiness that you know may inspire and motivate you to be more dedicated to the pursuit of holiness. That’s good. But it may be a frustrating thing to compare what we know about our own failures and weaknesses to what we see in others. The comparison will probably provoke one to either pride at how well we compare or despair at how poorly we measure up to the person we admire. I imagine that is why Paul said, “Not that we dare to clarify or compare ourselves with some

Bethlehem East Baptist Church will have all Sunday school classes beginning at 9:45 a.m. Sunday morning followed by regular service at 11 a.m. in the sanctuary. We will continue with Facebook Live Sunday School at 9:30 a.m. and Worship Service at 11 a.m.

CARRVILLE BAPTIST CHURCH of those who are commending themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding” (2 Corinthians 10:12).

Regular hours of service are Sundays- 9 a.m. Sunday School and 10 a.m. Morning Worship.

Wednesday nights at 6:30 p.m. the church offers Children’s Gospel Project, Youth Bible Study and Adult Prayer Meeting. Regular office hours are Monday-Thursday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Everyone (as far as I know) has conflicting desires and interests in life. Some of those desires and interests are not bad in themselves and may be enjoyed and fulfilled. But they cannot all be the most important thing. To a Christian, what matters most is whether or not you will surrender yourself to the holiness God purposes to create in your life.

Do you believe that you can be holy? God says you can be. Do you resent preaching and teaching that makes you confront unholiness in your life? Do you realize that the same preaching