Your Standard?

Let's face it, we all have standards for different things in our life. For some of us, it may be our grades, for others our sports, and for even others our reputations. We have things or people that we hold in high regards and try to measure up to, or even surpass to allow us to pat ourselves on the back for being oh so wonderful.

As Christians, disciples of the Lord, we are called to live a different life. Our life is one that goes completely against the grain. As the world is going in one direction, we are going in the complete opposite. At times it is easy for even Christians to fall prey to measuring their "good deeds" or even their "sin" up to that of the worlds and feel better or more holy, but we must understand that when we are doing that, we are measuring ourselves up to the prince of this world. And that is the lowest standard possible!

We are called rather to measure ourselves up to the one and only standard of perfect holiness that we have, Jesus Christ. He came and lived the perfect life that we couldn't live amidst the temptation, pressure, and utter depravity of this world. Although our perfection will not come until we enter into eternity that is not an excuse to fail to measure ourselves up to Him. God doesn't say "TRY" to be holy but rather "BE" holy.

"for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy."
-1 Peter 1:16

In our actions, in our speech, in our thoughts, in our lives we have a standard and that is Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Ask yourselves an honest question, what or who is your standard and then carefully evaluate His word and His calling for you and start measuring yourself up to Him! Is this an impossible task? No, absolutely not, God assures us that He will enable us, and it is only by Him, His grace and His power that we could ever even attempt to measure up.

"His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness." -2 Peter 1:3