One year ago I stepped off of a plane back home, back to my family & friends, back to “all things familiar.” I couldn’t wait to sleep in my own bed, drive my own car, and grab some food from Chick-fil-A again. 😉
But if I were honest, I would say there have been times throughout this year where I have felt like a stranger amongst so many people and places that I love. Living among different community, working a full-time job, and keeping up with the demands of life have thrown me off guard at times this year. And all the while my heart, mind, and emotions are still with some of my friends I served with and those that I met around the world last year.
It’s hard to forget the experiences, the faces, the countries I’ve seen. And I don’t want to forget. Praise the Lord for all that I learned last year!
However, one incredible thing about this “post race” life is the deepening of my faith in ways I never imagined. Specifically in regards to holiness. Seems like an odd topic, but God’s been showing me some areas in my life that are not honoring to Him.
What I’ve noticed throughout this past year in America is the heavy cultural influences of ungodly sexuality and lifestyles. It’s made me question what these influences are producing in me and more specifically in us – the church?
Perhaps the reason ungodly sexual behaviors continue to rise in our culture is the lack of holiness among God’s people. If we think and behave as the world – why would the world want to be like us? What do we really have to offer this generation?
You see, our minds, bodies, and lives should reflect God’s holiness.
It’s what sets us apart.
How many times throughout the day do you think of God’s holiness? What are you willing to crucify in your flesh so the world might come to know Christ because of you?
These are the type of questions God has been asking me throughout the year. What am I really willing to crucify? I say I love the Lord and His kingdom, but do I love my sin nature more? Do I love my culture more? Do I love my comforts more?
I wrote this excerpt below from my journal a few months ago; trying to make sense of this generation and my place in it.
“Where is the urgency to live a holy life and to fight for the souls of men and women around us? When will we ever understand what’s at stake? There are so many people living in sexual bondage and they don’t even know it. I think back to the generation of men and women during WWII. It seems that specific generation fought to protect the ones they love and to combat the tyranny of so many ungodly oppressors. Satan killed a lot of people during those years of war. But I sometimes wonder if he is doing the same thing to us now. We might not be out on the front lines – dying in battle. However, I see many of our young men and women dead on the inside – prisoners of war to the slavery of sexuality. It’s as though we are human corpses walking around – dead to anything good and true and pure. What are we really fighting for today? More sex? More success? Oh, no, Lord! We’re suppose to be fighting for souls! Forgive me for my complacency. Free me from sexual sin. Free us! If we don’t fight the battle for holiness, who will?”
If you and I don’t fight the battle for holiness, who will?
I know this is not the most encouraging or the most festive post to write during the holidays, but I hope it helps you think deeper and to ask yourself hard questions.
This year ends soon, and with it, new opportunities arise for each of us to live differently for the Lord. Why not surrender your sin today? As a New Year begins, why not begin anew with the Lord?
My goal as I continue to live this “post-race” life is to seek hard after God’s holiness. To crucify my sin. To love the world like Jesus.
I pray you remember that God is bigger than your sin. He is bigger than your past. He is bigger than your fears.
And as you surrender, may you find joy and peace this holiday season!
Much love,
Melissa
II Peter 2:19b: “For a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him.”
Hebrews 4:15-16: “For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
