HOLY: To Be Set Apart For God’s Purposes

When we talk about Holy Week, we are talking about the week leading up to Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection. We’re talking about the events that happen that lead him to, and through, the cross on our behalf. We’re talking about the end of Lent and the advent of Easter. We’re talking, “It’s Friday, but Sunday’s coming!”

But this week is one that is HOLY. And holy means “set apart for God’s purposes.” It means a separate identification of our whole selves as belonging to God. It means we don’t live, move, breathe, and have our being by anyone’s standards other than those of God as we learn through Christ and are empowered by the Holy Spirit. Holiness is radical. Holiness should alter our trajectory. Holiness should encompass our identity.

Do we let it?

Throughout Lent, we have sought to examine and identify with Jesus as he walks the path that leads to Holy Week. Jesus fully understood the necessity for what he was about to do – and even after taking time to prepare for it, still struggled with the emotions and fear that ANYONE would feel in that circumstance. Yet, because of his love for us and his love and obedience to the Father, Jesus endured it all for our sakes. He let himself be guided and transformed by the fact that he himself was set apart for God’s purposes. He came to save us. He came to be the firstfruits of the resurrection. He came to lead us to and through the cross. And his constant call was for us to take up our crosses and follow him on the path of holiness.

Are our whole lives, our whole selves, holy? Are we set apart for God’s purposes, or do we try to fit God into our purposes?

During this Holy Week, let us continue to contemplate the true meaning of what it means to be holy – fully holy – and to follow Jesus on his path to and through the cross, and on to glory.

Carrie