Holiness #2—Instrumental Holiness

If you cleanse yourself from wickedness, you will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work. 2 Timothy 2:21

Cleanliness is a means to holiness. When the surgical staff sterilizes all the equipment in the operating suite, they make it holy. Insufficiently cleaned equipment is not useful to the surgeon, nor beneficial to the patient. The hazardous waste receptacle is important, but it is not holy. It is set apart for dishonor because the garbage goes into it. When we come to Jesus, the Holy Spirit begins the process of making us holy by forgiving us, which cleanses us of our sin. And Christ gives us the Holy Spirit, who begins to transform us by causing us to delight in God and his instructions. Then Christ points us toward the Word of God and prays that the Father will sanctify us by his true word. One of these words is the promise contained in this command: if we turn ourselves away from acting wickedly and begin to practice righteousness and justice, we will be holy. We will become valuable agents who can accomplish God’s purpose of filling the earth with the knowledge of his glory. If, by obeying Christ’s commands, we cleanse ourselves from hurtful, self-exalting behavior—the kind that turns others away from trusting God to provide in every area of their lives—we will become channels of goodness that flows through us in such a way that people see it and praise our holy God.

Wise Master, I want to live so your goodness is clearly seen. Help me live meekly. Give me a delight in hearing others praise you for the good that has come to them through me, in Jesus’ name.