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The Struggle of Holiness
Devotional; Discussion thought for today.
” Sanctity does not consist in great concerns. It consists in struggling to ensure that the flame of your supernatural life is never allowed to go out; it consists in letting yourself be burned down to the last shred, serving God in the lowest place… or in the highest: wherever the Lord may call you. Escriva, Josemaria (2011-01-31). The Forge (Kindle Locations 441-444). Scepter Publishers. Kindle Edition.
Tomorrow I preach on the topic of “Spiritual Warfare”, not a favorite topic at all, because I think I see so much misunderstanding of it.
The first reaction when it is mention is “gung ho!” Let’s go attack the hordes that would tear down and destroy the church! Let’s go to war with sin and sinners and if God is with us, we shall surely wipe them out! ( Depending on the time period, this is either burning them at the stake or forcing them to submit and tap out because of our superior logic and strength! )The church militant, misapplied! The other reaction is the one that heeds “discretion is the better part of valor” and high-tales at speeds reminiscent of of the USS Enterprise at the sight of Evil, or an encounter with the demonic. (btw – I highly recommend the latter if you resonate with the first – check out the sons of Sceva!)
But the answer, seriously is found in the quote above. Sanctity, Holiness, the struggle, the battle to cling to that which kindled our lives and set us ablaze. Ablaze to the point where our lives become living sacrifices, not on the battlefront, but in serving others. I love how Fr. Escriva talks of God burning us down to the last shred – and in places of great humility or honor – but to the last shred in either place. Being willing to follow God where ever He leads – no matter the personal cost. As I’ve mentioned before – holiness isn’t an attitude – it isn’t some smug feeling that I am purer than those others. It is gratitude that despite my impurities, God has called and cleansed me and given me a vocation – several vocations, where He has put me – not to glorify myself – but to reflect His love to a broken world. With that gratitude comes a sense of joy and fulfillment that only comes when we walk with Jesus throughout out lives. For it is God, the Holy Spirit – that continues to kindle and stoke our fires – that bring people before us, who need, desperately need to know the love and healing that comes from being in Christ.
The struggle of holiness of being sanctified isn’t about preservation, or about becoming pure and devout. It just isn’t. Those are side effects of being in the glory of God, sharing a life of ministry in vocations that God has called us to, and accompanies us on the journey, as we our hearts burn, as He reveals His love and mercy poured out on us.
So hear His voice, walk with Him in His glory, as He loves, guides, purifies you… His children!
AMEN
The Community of Believers….welcomes all
(note to new readers, one of my favorite devotional readers was a Roman Catholic priest of the last century. Don’t agree with everything he says, but much of it is profound and the discussions that come from quoting him and commenting on his quote can be beneficial. Such is today’s devotion! Please comment away!)
“Take not of the words of that working man who commented so enthusiastically after he had attended a gathering you had organized. “I had never heard people speak as they do here, about being noble, honest, kind and generous…” And he concluded in amazement: “Compared to the materialism of the Left or the Right, this is the true revolution.”
Any soul can understand the brotherhood Christ has established. Let us make a point of not adulterating that doctrine” ( J. Escriva – Furrow)
My thoughts:
It may seem arrogant to claim that those who live in Christ are more radical, more revolutionary than the extremes in politics. Until you realize that the revolutionary thought, the radical difference, is found in sacrifice, in having a mindset that means we embrace discomfort – it it will lighten another’s burdens, bring hope to those without hope, mercy to those who think they are past it, and joy in the midst of sorrow.
Let me be honest.. and blunt. Christians are people of superior morals, or of some high caliber of character that shines brighter than everyone else. We can be hypocrites, jerks, and yes, we still sin. But what is revolutionary, radical even, is that as we place our confidence in Christ’s work, in His ability to fix, heal, forgive, love, that sacrifice of His, that work of His, becomes part of us.
That means we can be honest – and caring, as we confront the situations we find ourselves in – even those of sin. 1 John 1 tells us not to hide what we do wrong, but to bring it before God – let Him forgive it, let Him cleanse and heal us. That brings relief, and peace, freedom from the anxieties of “getting caught” or what sin does to our understanding of who we are. We see Him fix our brokeness, and then we learn to desire that He does so for others…
and that radically changes things… its a revolutionary concept…because we don’t promise to fix a broken world – but to bring healing to those in it – even while we heal ourselves.
