Holy NOT Holier-Than

Thursday - January 6th

Scripture to Read Today: Ephesians 1:1-3

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Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,

To God's holy people in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 1:1

"Isn't that special?"

"Could it be.... Satan?"

Recognize those famous catchphrases from Saturday Night Live's "The Church Lady" played by Dana Carvey? In the late 80s and the early 90s, Carvey's church lady satirically embodied the worst of "holier than thou" Christians. She was condescending, judgmental, and smug. Sadly, the world often sees Christians that way.

Entertainment and media stereotypes of Christians have helped shape that perspective, but too many Christians have been "the church lady" in real life. We don't need any more Christian leaders who publicly say one thing in judgment of others and then are discovered in patterns of immorality themselves. Failures within our own ranks feed the stereotypes.

When the Apostle Paul writes to the first-century body of believers in Ephesus, he refers to them as "God's holy people" (Ephesians 1:1). Any kind of image like Carvey's "church lady" would be the farthest thing from the Apostle's mind. He wasn't even speaking of how the believers walked in life or related to others. He was talking about their standing before God. They were "holy people" because of their salvation in Christ. As they placed their faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ, God's grace made them holy before Him.

The term "holy" that Paul uses in Ephesians 1:1 means "to be set apart." Anyone who knows Christ as Savior has been positionally set apart from sin and clothed in the righteousness of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21). That "being set apart" has nothing to do with our performance in life and everything to do with our position before God in Christ!

If you know Jesus as your Savior, you are one of God's holy people. You have been positionally clothed now and forever in the righteousness of Christ. As you live your life here on earth, you are now to live in such a way others see that righteousness come out in you more and more every day. That takes humility, submission, and patience as we walk with the Lord. Therefore, folks who are holy people of God in Christ should never carry Carvey's church lady's attitude, demeanor, or behavior.

Today, because you are holy before God in Christ, walk with humility rather than a "holier-than-thou" attitude!