Be ye holy, as I am holy.
Most Holy God! once again I bless Thee for the wondrous revelation of Thy Holiness. Not only have I heard Thee speak, ‘I am holy,’ but Thou hast invited me to fellowship with Thyself: ‘Be holy, as I am holy.’ Blessed be Thy name! I have heard more even: ‘I make holy,’ is Thy word of promise, pledging Thine own Power to work out the purpose of Thy Love. I do thank Thee for what Thou hast revealed in Thy Son, in Thy Spirit, in Thy Word, of the path of Holiness. But how shall I bless Thee for the lesson of this day, that there is not a loss or sorrow, not a pain or care, not a temptation or trial, but Thy love also means it, and makes it, to be a help in working out the holiness [p261] of Thy people. Through each Thou drawest to Thyself, that they may taste how, in accepting Thy Will of Love, there is blessing and deliverance.
Blessed Father! Thou knowest how often I have looked upon the circumstances and the difficulties of this life as hindrances. Oh, let them all, in the light of Thy holy purpose to make us partakers of Thy Holiness, in the light of Thy Will and Thy Love, from this hour be helps. Let, above all, the path of Thy Blessed Son, proving how suffering is the discipline of a Father’s love, and surrender the secret of holiness, and sacrifice the entrance to the Holiest of all, be so revealed that in the power of His Spirit and His grace that path may become mine. Let even chastening, even the least, be from Thine own hand, making me partaker of Thy Holiness. Amen.
1. How wonderful the revelation in the Epistle to the Hebrews of the holiness and the holy making power of suffering, as seen in the Son of God! ‘He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.’ ‘It became God to make the Author of our salvation perfect through suffering, for both He that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one.’ ‘In that He Himself hath suffered, He is able to succour.’ ‘We behold Jesus, because of the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour.’ Suffering is the way of the rent veil, the new and living way Jesus walked in and opened for us. Let all sufferers study this. Let all who are ‘holy in Christ’ here learn to know the Christ in whom they are holy, and the way in which He sanctified Himself and sanctifies us.
2. If we begin by realizing the sympathy of Jesus with us in our suffering, it will lead us on to what is more: sympathy with Jesus in His suffering, fellowship with Him to suffer even as He did.
3. Let suffering and holiness be inseparably linked, as in God’s mind and in Christ’s person, so in your life through the Spirit. ‘It became God to make Him perfect through suffering; for both He that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one.’ Let every trial, small or great, be the touch of God’s hand, laying hold on you, to lead you to holiness. Give yourself into that hand.
4. ‘Insomuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings, rejoice; for the Spirit of glory and of God resteth on you.’