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As I’ve explained earlier in this series, if you’re a Christian, then you’re a saint, a person set-apart by God for relationship with Him and to serve Him in the world. So how do you begin to live as a saint on a daily basis?
First of all, don’t get all puffed up about receiving the title of “saint.” Remember, it’s not a reward for a godly life, but an invitation to start living one. I wouldn’t recommend that you change your business card by adding the title “Saint” to your name.
Remember also that your sainthood depends upon what God has done, setting you apart for himself and his service through Christ. If you have trusted Christ for your salvation, then you are a saint. So be what you are! Live like it! As you get up in the morning, remember your primary purpose for the day: To live as a person dedicated to God and God’s work.
It may be that the Holy Spirit has revealed to you an area of your life in need of transformation. Watch out for the natural tendency to rationalize away what God is saying to you! Instead, let the Scripture be that which tells you the truth about your life. Ask the Lord for help in living by his standards, not the standards of the world.
Also, remember that sainthood is not a solitary journey, but a pilgrimage shared with other believers in Jesus. If you try to be different from this world all by yourself, you will surely fail. Commit yourself to a community of Christians who understand that they have been set apart by God for special purposes.
You cannot live a holy life apart from the power of the Holy Spirit. God has given you his Spirit, in part, to help you live in way that is different from the world. The more you spend time in fellowship with God, the more you will be empowered to live distinctively. Bible reading, prayer, and worship contribute mightily to our active holiness. (Photo: Even kids know they need fellowship with other believers to grow in faith.)
One of the ways the world reinforces its godless values is through peer pressure. If “everybody’s doing it,” then why shouldn’t you? That’s especially true if “everybody” includes your close friends or family. We often talk about peer pressure as a problem for teenagers, and indeed it is. But most adults I know work hard to be like those around us and to gain their approval. We just don’t call it peer pressure; we call it “getting along” or “socialization.” If we are going to live in a way that displeases our secular peers, and perhaps even causes them to turn against us, then we need an alternative peer group. We need intimate communion with our brothers and sisters in Christ. Regular support, prayer, encouragement, and accountability will help us to fend off the world’s disapproval, and to delight in God’s approval above all.