Key Scripture: 1 Peter 1:14-16 

As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in ALL manner of life; for the reason that it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

Relevance

In the Bible are many Be Ye's, and most seem to apply to believers in some way. Have a read and see which ones make you blush. (Joking)

• Noah. Be ye fruitful & multiply. Genesis 9:7

• Abram. be ye perfect.  Gen 17:1

• Moses' 12 Spies. Be ye of good courage. Numbers 13.20

• Joshua. Be strong and of good courage. Joshua 1:6

• Joshua's command to the people. Be ye all ready. Joshua 8:4

• David commanded: Be ye valiant. 2 Samuel 2:7

• David encourages. Be ye mindful always of his covenant. 1 Chronicles 15:16

• Prophet Oded to King Asa. Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak. 2 Chronicles 15:7

• Levites: be ye with the king when he cometh in, and when he goeth out.2 Chronicles 23:7

• Be ye saved, all the ends of the earth. Isaiah 45:22

• Be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the Lord. Isaiah 52:11

• Be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create. Matthew 5:48

• Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. Matt 10:16.

• Be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. Matt 23:10

• Neither be ye called masters. Luke 12,29 

• Neither be ye of doubtful mind. Matt 24.44 

• Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. Luke 6.36.

• Be ye therefore merciful. Rom 12:2 

• Be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind. 1 Corinthians 11.1 

• Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.1 Corinthians 11:1

Of course, there are a few other warnings—BE YE NOTS

• Be ye not stiffnecked. Stubborn to where the neck would break before it would bend.

• Be ye not as the horse, or the mule. Wild, determined to take the lead.

•  Be ye not mockers. Full of pride. 

• Be ye ashamed.

• Be ye not as your fathers. Evil-hearted, proud, God haters.

As we can see, there are several challenges for us to consider. But, there is one more—BE YE HOLY!

1 Peter  1.14-16 implores, As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all conversation;  for the reason that it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

Conversation as we know it today means dialogue. Yet, Webster's dictionary explains the original meaning. Conversation means Manner of Life, General course of manners, behaviour, deportment, especially as it respects morals.)I learnt this when I was 17, as the Bible Dad bought me had the same explanation contained in the footnotes. It changed my entire understanding of many aspects of life, not just dialogue.

If "it is written", as Peter states, then where is it written?

Leviticus 11: 44-45 For I am the Lord your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy: For I am the Lord that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.

Leviticus 19:1-2  And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be holy: for I the Lord your God am holy.

Leviticus 20: 26  And ye shall be holy unto me: for I the Lord am holy, and have severed you from other people, that ye should be mine.

From the beginning of time to its end, God calls His people to be holy. Holiness began in the Garden of Eden, until Eve and Adam became less than wholly in love with their Lord.

When God called Moses at the Burning Bush, he was to remove his shoes due to holiness. From that point, the Israelites as a church were introduced to the concept of holiness. From there, holiness was God's desire and expectation for them.

The true Born Again experience draws us into a realm of holiness, where we are exclusively given to our Saviour.  As with all believers, God calls us to a life of holiness, wholly committed to Him and His Son. Not 90%, 80% or 50%, with the spiritual life coming second. As in a marriage, Jesus seeks the love and whole dedication due Him through fidelity, and beckons us into the rest. 

When we are wholly in love, we can then put the full difference between the holy and unholy, the clean and unclean, and the righteous and unrighteous, opening our eyes to the realities of Heaven. 

Prayer

Dear Lord, I praise you for the purity and holiness of your kingdom and expectations. Thank you for the covering of Jesus Christ, but please help me mature, even at my age, into the person you called me to be in my youth. 

Photo by Wesley Tingey