Musings and Memories
By Doug Dezotell
A recent survey done by the Barna Group showed that most Americans do Not consider themselves to be Holy.
Yet, 73 percent of all Americans believed that it is possible for someone to become holy regardless of their past.
Only 50 percent of the adult population, however, said that they knew someone they considered to be holy. And that’s more than twice as many who considered themselves to be holy (21 percent).
The views of born-again Christians were not much different from the national averages.
Among believers, 76 percent said it is possible for a person to become holy regardless of the terrible things they may have done in their past.
Slightly more than half of the group (55 percent) said they knew someone they would describe as holy.
And roughly three out of ten Christians (29 percent) said they themselves were holy, which is marginally more than the national norm.
In the first century AD, the Apostle Paul wrote a letter to the Christians in Rome, and in that letter he said: “I beseech you (or beg you, implore you, plead with you) brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, HOLY, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service (or worship)… (Romans 12:1)
Do you consider yourself to be a Christian? Do you consider yourself to be saved from sin or born-again? If so, do You consider Yourself to be Holy?
If you are a Bible believing Christian then you should know that you are washed in the blood of Jesus. As Christians we need to see ourselves through the blood of Jesus. That means we are Holy! Holy through the blood of Jesus!
We can and should Worship God in the Beauty of Holiness!
Psalm 29:2: “Give unto the Lord the glory due to His Name; Worship the Lord in the Beauty of Holiness.”
Psalm 96:9: “Oh, worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness! Tremble before Him, all the earth.”
We need to realize that everything we do in our lives should be a part of our worship of GOD.
You might say, “I am going to church to worship God;” but you should also be able to say, “I am going to work, the factory, the shop, the office, the school, the garage, the barn, the garden, wherever you go, to worship God.”
Worship needs to be what we do as a normal part of our lives. Every day, everywhere we go, everywhere we are.
That Is What We Were Created To Do!
Pastor Kirbyjon Caldwell said: “There are two great moments in a person’s life: the moment you were born and the moment you realize Why you were born.”
We were Created to Worship our Creator in the Beauty of Holiness.
The Apostle John, in the latter part of the first century AD, received a Revelation from GOD, and the Grandeur of Heaven was Unveiled to him.
John was caught up in the Spirit and entered into Heaven. There was a chorus being recited over and over: “Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty, Who Was and Is and Is to Come!”
John also heard others saying: “Thou art Worthy, O Lord, to receive Glory and Honor and Power; for Thou hast Created all things, and for Thy Pleasure they are, and were created.”
We have been created for God’s Pleasure, Created to Worship God!
God wants our everyday lives to be an act of Worship.
Nick Vujicic, a 27-year-old Australian, was born without limbs. An article in “Preaching Today” tells his story:
“Nick’s parents, devout Christians who planted a church in Australia 11 months before Nick was born, found it hard to understand how God could use their son’s loss for good. But he has.
“Reading in Sunday school about being made in the image of God seemed like a cruel joke to Nick. He seesawed between despair and begging God to grow arms and legs for him.
“He contemplated suicide the year he turned 8. When he was 15, though, one story in the Bible answered one of his toughest questions. ‘When I read the story of the blind man … Jesus said he was born so that the work of God could be revealed through him,’ Nick said. ‘That gave me peace. I said, ‘Lord, here I am. Use me. Mold me. Make me the man you want me to be.’
“Nick learned to write using the two toes on a partial foot that protrudes from his body. He also learned how to throw tennis balls, answer the phone, walk, and swim. He invented new ways to shave and brush his own teeth. He even earned double degrees in accounting and financial planning by age 21. He has since become a motivational speaker to Christian congregations in over 12 countries, and he has ministered to over two million people face to face.
“He also oversees “Life Without Limbs,” an organization for the physically disabled. And his book, “No Arms, No Legs, No Worries,” was released in 2009.”
Nick Vujicic learned that he was created to Worship God! Just as he is.
Nick has presented his life as a living sacrifice to God! He has realized that he is Holy through the Blood of Jesus.
Do your remember what The Apostle Paul said in his letter to the Roman Christians?
Nick remembers it every day of his life.
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the Mercies of God, that ye Present your Bodies a Living Sacrifice, Holy, Acceptable unto God, which is your Reasonable Service.”
I know I’m Holy.
But it’s only because of the Blood of Jesus that was shed on the Cross for the sins of mankind, and not by any works or deeds I have done.
I am saved by Grace through Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. You can be Holy too.
Give your life to Christ. Become a Living Sacrifice! Holy, Acceptable to GOD.
Doug Dezotell is a columnist for the Bedford County Post. He has the privilege of serving as the pastor of Cannon UMC in Shelbyville, and he’s the grateful husband of Lynn Dezotell. Doug can be contacted by phone at 931-607-5191 or by email at dougmdezotell@gmail.com. Thank you for reading Doug’s “Musings and Memories.” And thank you for reading the Bedford County Post.
