“Like Father, Like Son”
We say this when the son has grown
up to "be just like" his father – not just in external appearance,
but also in temperament, manner, way of doing things, having the same sense of value,
or some other quality. We say this when the son has taken after his father’s inner
person as well as his outer person. Nowadays my son, Abe, hears often people
say, “Look at you. You look just like your dad.” Now he wears glasses just like
me. He got his hair permed just like me. But not only that, sometimes I am just
amazed by how he likes and doesn’t like certain foods just like me, and by how
he behaves the same way in certain things just like me. Like father, like son.
When we talk about the attributes of
our heavenly Father (“who God is”), we may say, “God is loving, kind, wise, eternal,
unchangeable, all powerful (omnipotent), all-knowing (omniscient), and so on.”
Though they are all saying something true about Him, if we are forced to choose
just one quality – the most prominent attribute of God, it would be the word “holy.”
Our God is holy. Let us keep this in mind, and read today’s scripture together:
You are children of the Lord your God.
You must not lacerate yourselves or shave your forelocks for the dead. For you are a people holy to the Lord your
God; it is you the Lord has chosen out of all the peoples on earth to be
his people, his treasured possession.
We must be holy, because this is
the only sound evidence that we are true children of God. “Like Father, like
son.” Then, what does it mean to be holy? What is true practical holiness? Anglican
Bishop J. C. Ryle gives us a good definition what holiness is and what holiness
isn’t:[1]
True holiness,
we surely ought to remember, does not consist merely of inward sensations and
impressions. It is much more than tears, and sighs, and bodily excitement, and
a quickened pulse, and a passionate feeling of attachment to our own favourite
preachers and our own religious party, and a readiness to quarrel with everyone
who does not agree with us. It is
something of "the image of Christ," which can be seen and observed by
others in our private life, and habits, and character, and doings.
In other words, holiness is
basically to have the same mind with God
– hating what He hates and loving what He loves.
Holiness in 21st Century
But the thing is that holiness
doesn’t come naturally. Instead, our sinful nature inclines to follow the
course of this world (Eph 2:2). It conforms to this world. So the Bible says, “Do
not be conformed to this world, but be transformed” (Rom 12:2). God says to his
children, “Be holy, because I am holy! Be different from those who don’t know
me! Don’t follow their ways! Be a peculiar people!” So for Israel, God commands them not to follow
pagan practices, saying, “Don’t lacerate yourselves or shave your forelocks for
the dead. Don’t make your children pass through fire (child-sacrifice). Don’t
practice divination or sorcery. Don’t imitate their practices, but be
different.” Then, God gives them practical guidance on how they may live as a peculiar
people of God – even what to eat and what not to eat. The purpose is this: “For
you are a people holy to the Lord your God” (14:21b).
Some of us may think, “Those
dietary laws were for Israel. What about us? What does it mean to be holy and
to live as a peculiar people in 21st century?” Actually, Jesus
already answered this question. He interpreted what practical holiness really means
in daily life perfectly and beautifully through his sermon on the mount (Matt
5-7). According to Jesus, true practical holiness means to love our enemies and
pray for those who give us a hard time. It means to help the needy in secret
and to pray in secret. It means to trust in God and be generous toward God and
people. It means to seek first the kingdom of God and to reprioritize
everything in our life accordingly. It means to do to others as we would have
them do to us. It means to make every effort to enter through the narrow gate. It
means to hear the word and to do the word. This is what it means to be holy in our
daily life.
As you hear the Sermon on the Mount,
some of you may ask, “Is it practical?” Some of you may think, “The Sermon on
the Mount was intended only for super-Christians, not for ordinary ones like me.
So I don’t have to worry about its high standards.” Now I want you to open your
Bible and find Matthew 5:1-2, the introduction of the Sermon of the Mount:
“When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and
after he sat down, his disciples came
to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them,
saying…”
There were always two different
groups of people who were following Jesus: the disciples and the crowds. Jesus
always told a parable to the crowds; and then he withdrew himself from them and
explained the meaning of the parable to his disciples. He gave more
concentrated instruction and teaching to his disciples. I share this because
the Sermon of the Mount is one of the most challenging, radical,
counter-cultural sermons in the Bible. So for those conformed to this world and
its culture (“the crowds”), this sermon just doesn’t make sense and is not
practical, not relevant, not attainable. But as for Jesus’ disciples, this
sermon is like spiritual dynamite, spiritual revolution. And it is practical. It is relevant. It is attainable.
But How?
But the question still remains: “How is it possible to live such a godly
life?” It is possible and attainable when
we are filled with the Holy Spirit. In particular, Ephesians 5 is the New
Testament version of Deuteronomy 14, which tells us how to live a holy life as
God’s children. It begins like this: “Imitate
God, therefore, in everything you do, because
you are his dear children” (v. 1). And later, Paul tells us how we can live
such life in this way:
“Do not get
drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns
and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always
giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus
Christ” (5:18-20, NIV)
When we are filled with the Holy
Spirit, we have then new nature, new heart, new desire, and new power that
enables us to live a godly life. Then how can we be filled with the Spirit? Paul
tells us we can be filled with the Spirit as we recite psalms, sing hymns and
give thanks to God. But it is not about the formula. Rather, it is about relationship. Reciting, singing, and
giving thanks are means to deepen our
relationship with the person Jesus. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Jesus.
Holiness comes from Christ. Apart from him, there is no such thing as holiness.
Holiness is the fruit of vital union with Christ. The more we spend quality time
with Christ, the more we will be filled with the Spirit, who makes us holy.
Look to Jesus
James Taylor loved to go wherever
John Wesley was preaching—not to listen, but to throw stones and mock those who
did listen. However, on the day before Taylor’s wedding, Wesley preached the
gospel of Jesus Christ on Joshua 24:15, "…As for me and my house, we
will serve the Lord." Taylor came under intense conviction and was
saved. This man who once was a chief scoffer became a believer who led his
family in the paths of righteousness. His grandson, James Hudson Taylor, became
one of the greatest missionaries in history.[2]
Jesus is mighty to save. His word is mighty to transform us and make us holy.
Suppose the most notorious prisoner
shares his room with Jesus for three months. Who do you think is transformed?
The prisoner, or Jesus? The prisoner! Now we, Christians, are the ones who live
a life with Christ 24/7. Then, we need to ask this question ourselves, “Am I transformed?
Am I holier than a year ago? Am I more loving, kind, generous, patient, forgiving
than three years ago?” If the answer is “No” or “Not sure,” then, either we are
stronger than the most notorious prisoner, or we are not living a life together
with Christ.
Do you feel imperfect or unworthy? Look
to Jesus, and you will be made whole in Him. Do you feel as if you were
nothing? Look to Jesus, and He will be all in all to your soul. Are you weary
and burdened? Look to Jesus, and He will give you rest. Are you thirsty? Look
to Jesus, and streams of living water will flow from within you. If you look to
yourself, there will be only darkness. But if you look to Jesus, there is
light. For Jesus is the Light, the Way, the Truth, the Life, the Rock, the
Shepherd, the Savior, the Physician, the Fountain of living water, the
Wonderful Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of
Peace, and All in All.
So
look less to yourself, and look more to Jesus! Look to Jesus by reciting
psalms and reading a scripture. Look to Jesus by singing hymns. Look to Jesus
by giving thanks to Him always for everything. Look to Jesus by helping someone
in need in His name. Look to Jesus by obeying the promptings of the Spirit.
Look to Jesus by talking and listening to Him. Look to Jesus by testifying to
others about Him. Look to Jesus by hearing him in flowers, trees, water, sky.
Look to Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. Look, look, look! Look
to Jesus and live!
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