This book is really good. No wonder why many Christians recommend it. It’s time that you read it as well. Let’s encourage and motivate each other in our pursuit of holiness because God says that we should be holy as He is holy. (1 Pet. 1:15) Holiness is the pathway to true happiness because as we become holier, we become closer to the God whose presence is fullness of joy and pleasures forevermore. (Ps. 16:11)
This is a book authored by Jerry Bridges. I just finished this book today. This book has proved to be a blessing to my soul. It has challenged me to have a radical commitment in my pursuit of holiness. In this article, allow me to share the lessons that I have learned from the book.
One of the lessons that struck me the most is that holiness is my responsibility. Holiness does not just happen when I sit there and do nothing. I need to make every effort in applying Scripture in my life by the help of the Holy Spirit to produce holiness in me.
Jerry Bridges made an illustration about a farmer who does his work to ensure that the crops are good for harvest but also relies on God for rain and sunshine. This is a picture of our pursuit of holiness. We do our part by putting sin to death and obeying God’s commandments and relying to the Holy Spirit in our pursuit. We should do what we must do. God won’t do it for us. But we need also to rely on God’s help because at the end of the day, it is Him who works in us. (Phil. 2:13)
Another lesson is that, in this pursuit of holiness, we would be greatly aware of how sinful we are and how we have violated God’s commandments. That is why, it is important to remind ourselves of our standing in Christ. We pursue holiness not to be accepted by God but because we are already accepted by God. There is a huge difference.