TAKE TIME TO BE HOLY (By Morris Norman)

Like anything else in life that is worthwhile and in which we may become proficient and eventually succeed, it TAKES TIME TO HOLY. I used to play golf but never became good at it, because I only played nine holes every once in a while in the summer. I would like to play a musical instrument but likely never will, because I think that I don't have the time to learn to practice.

Just so, no one will ever "be holy as he which hath called you is holy" (1 Peter 1:15) without TAKING TIME TO BE HOLY. To be holy, is to be separate from sin, therefore consecrated to God, pure from evil conduct and observant of God's will. It signifies being set apart unto God. This is not done on a part time basis, with only an occasional visit to a worship service or just thinking about it once in a while. It takes TIME and plenty of TIME, in fact, it takes all of our TIME.

Practice and study TO BE HOLY. Spend TIME in the study of God's word that tells about God and His Son and tells us how we can become like Them. Spend TIME in prayer to find "grace to help in the time of need." (Hebrews 4:16)

Spend a great deal of TIME with Jesus your friend and guide. Take time to be with those of like precious faith who can strengthen you and to whom you can be a source of strength.

Do not be so involved in this "rat race" called life that you lose sight of the spiritual. Practice, and be careful to always set the right kind of example before the world.

Find calmness of life in fellowship with and confidence inyour Lord. Look ever to him for guidance in every facet of life. (From STAND, a bulletin of the Van Dorn Street Church of Christ, Grenada, Miss. March 1999)