The Holiness Stream - The Virtuous Life
Read and Listen:
There is no better model for holiness than Jesus. He showed us what God looks like in human form in the way he lived, loved, and treated people. We are invited into a lifelong journey of becoming more like him.
The promise from 1 Thessalonians 5: 23-24 makes this journey possible:
May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.
Jesus was 'goodness on fire', perfect inward character showing up in perfect outward action. In every situation, with every person, he responded with complete goodness and love. Why? Because his heart was fully surrendered to and aligned with God. Heaven was in him.
We're not Jesus. You might not respond with complete love and complete goodness the next time someone cuts you off in traffic or that coworker pushes your buttons. But that's okay. Holiness isn't a race. It's a lifelong rhythm of surrender and growth, where we slowly build the holy habits that shape our character to be more like his.
Spiritual practices are how we build those holy habits. They strengthen the inside and that’s what shows up on the outside.
Spiritual Practice:
This week, choose one holy habit you want to start — fasting, scripture memorization, confession, or something else that's been on your heart. Make a simple plan to practice for a week. At the end of the week, ask yourself: how did this shape me to be more like God, and how can I keep it going?
One practical approach:
Set aside 30 minutes today to take time and work through the examen prayer. Walk through each step as you take a look back at how God is active in your life, what the last day has looked like in that presence, and looking forward to tomorrow.