As a kid, I loved school. I loved learning, reading, and sometimes even studying. My family firmly believed that knowledge created opportunities as well as our own understanding of people and events around us.

While I still believe that now (and still love learning), I’ve also experienced how easy it is for me to get “stuck” on the knowledge part and sometimes forget about other aspects beyond knowledge.

The same goes for our knowledge of God. We already know we can only know so much about God (Isaiah 55:8-9). In the pursuit of more knowledge and facts, we may sometimes forget God openly offers us a relationship.

Pursuing God in ways beyond facts deepens our relationship. God created us to be with Him. Our pursuit of His ways draws us closer to Him as we see more of who He is.

Why Pursue Holiness

“For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness.” – 1 Thessalonians 4:7

As Kathy stated in this month’s introduction, “God’s call to holiness is for our good and His glory.”

Following the knowledge we learn about how God wants us to live can foster a deeper and more intimate relationship with Him.

Holiness is what is most like God. The [amazon_link id=”0830814396″ target=”_blank” ]New Bible Dictionary[/amazon_link] says, “…holiness is his quintessential nature, his very selfhood” (p. 477, third edition).

If holiness is God’s character, how can we—imperfect humans—have any measure of holiness?

Here the New Bible Dictionary says, “…holiness is always derived and dependent upon proximity or relationship to the holy God. … He is a seeking God, whose holiness is expressed in his saving activity” (p. 477, third edition).

Because holiness is from God (including the gift of His Spirit), it also returns us to Him. Living from a holy perspective brings us back to the path God has laid out for us.

Hebrews 12:14 explains holiness is part of being with God (and peace is strongly linked): “Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.”

How Holiness Fosters Relationship

It is through God’s holiness that we even have the path to Him through Christ (Romans 1:1-5). Christ’s blamelessness and sacrifice provides holy redemption for all believers. Within that redemption, though, we were also given access to God. Through prayer, through personal relationship, and through our adoption into God’s holiness.

Biblical analogies of parenthood always catch my attention (Psalm 103:13, Hebrews 12:10-11). When a child looks up to an adult, the child imitates that adult. Out of love, respect, and eagerness to grow to be alike in some way.

When we witness God’s vast love, we can’t help but want to emulate Him.

“…let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.” – 2 Corinthians 7:1

And when we do, we experience His true peace, His blessing, and his cleanness.

“Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord?
And who shall stand in his holy place?
He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
who does not lift up his soul to what is false
and does not swear deceitfully.
He will receive blessing from the Lord
and righteousness from the God of his salvation.” – Psalm 24:3-5

We can only pursue holiness because of God, and when we do, we grow ever closer to our holy, loving God.

“Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness.” – Psalm 29:2 (NIV)

What do you first think of when you hear the word “holiness?” How does accepting His gift of holiness and seeking to imitate Him bring you closer to Him?

Tweetables:

“If holiness is God’s character, how can we—imperfect humans—have any measure of holiness? http://wp.me/p1Su7F-2Zk @DoNotDepart” – Click here to tweet this.

“We can only pursue holiness because of God. When we do, we grow ever closer to our holy, loving God. http://wp.me/p1Su7F-2Zk @DoNotDepart” – Click here to tweet this.