“Pursue [...] holiness, without which no one will see the Lord” – Hebrews 12:14.

The Lord is holy, and all who come before Him must be holy.

As fallen and broken people, we have sin residing in us. Though we are no longer slaves because of Jesus’ sacrifice, we are still prone to temptation. 

But we can overcome sin by weakening its power through the pursuit of holiness. 

Holiness is not sinlessness or perfection. However, it is the reflection of the choice we make by turning our backs on sin and facing God. It is a lifelong commitment and process.

Holiness is not out of reach; we simply need to pursue it. And here are 5 ways you can start your pursuit of holiness and live for God.

Study the Word of God

Being holy means intentionally choosing God, His values, and principles over the world’s standards. And we can only know what God values and desires by reading and studying His Word.

We cannot please Him if we don’t know Him. We cannot know God outside of the Bible. It has been given to us so we may discern the heart of our Creator and Father.

The Bible can sometimes feel intimidating; we fear misunderstanding or misinterpreting it. Fortunately, we have a helper, the Holy Spirit (John 14:26).

Before picking and opening your Bible, ask the Holy Spirit in prayer to lead and teach you.

You can also select a few resources, like devotionals, Bible reading plans, or Bible Cards, to help and guide you.

Either way, commit to being in the Word daily. It is the first and most important step toward holiness.

Surrender to God’s Power

Reading the Word alone is not enough.

James 1:22-25 tells us that anyone who reads the Word but does not do what it says is like “ike someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.” Without obedience, it’s just a meaningless ritual.

Sanctification is the process through which one becomes holy. It is a life-long process of change and transformation. The goal of reading the Bible is not simply to know what it says, but to surrender to it.

Surrendering also includes the repentance of sin. We all fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). Yet, He is faithful and just to forgive us if we confess our sins (1 John 1:9).

Then, we allow the power of the Holy Spirit to work in us so that He may change and transform us to the likeness of Christ (Romans 8:29).

Guard Your Heart

One mistake a lot of us make is to think that after a certain period, we’re safe from temptation or from falling into sin. Unfortunately, there is no rest against the battle of the flesh on this side of eternity.

The Bible tells us that the devil is on the prowl, waiting for any slight opportunity to devour those who are found lacking (1 Peter 5:8). That’s why we need to be constantly on guard and put up guardrails to protect us.

Guarding your heart, according to Proverbs 4:23, is being intentional about what you allow in your environment. The human heart is prone to influence; be mindful of what you allow to influence you.

Pay attention to what and who you watch, read, or listen to. Pay attention to where and with whom you spend your time. Pay attention to how you manage your day and what activities make the most of it. 

Are those things pulling you closer to God or further from Him?

Not everything has to be “spiritual”. For instance, you don’t need to be working in ministry for your work to be meaningful, but how are you doing the work? Who are you serving? Does your work pull you away from God?

It is a mistake to be complacent, so be vigilant.

Seek Accountability and Community

Throughout the Bible, God invites His people to gather in assembly and community (Hebrews 10:24–25, Acts 2:42–47, Ecclesiastes 4:9–12, Psalm 133:1). That’s because we need others to grow. There is only so much we can figure out on our own.

Past experiences may make you wary of being in a Christian community, but don’t let that stop you from seeking.

Ask God to lead you to a people who truly serve and honor Him, and with whom you’ll experience the joy of being in the Body of Christ. Ask, and you shall receive (Matthew 7:7).

God has called and equipped many to bring out deep and transforming messages from Scriptures to edify His people. So, spend time under the preaching of the Gospel.

Being around like-minded people strengthens you. And if you were to stumble and fall, there would be others ready to pick and lift you (Romans 15:1).

Serve God and Others

Holiness on this side of eternity is being set apart for the service of God. Set apart from the world and its principles, to serve God and His people.

When the world values and applauds hyperindependence, God calls us to serve one another (Galatians 5:13).

In service, we learn to be humble, which keeps pride at bay because pride goes before the fall (Proverbs 16:18). 

When we reach heaven and become truly saints, we will be with others, worshipping and praising God together. Let us then practice this togetherness here on earth.

Take part in church activities. Serve in your community. Look around and see what and whose needs you can meet. 

Reflect God’s love to those around you by being a light to them.

We will never reach perfection on this side of heaven. But we can get as close to it as possible by pursuing holiness daily.

God wants us to be holy.

What can you do today to bring you closer to who God created you to be?

If you don’t know, start by picking your Bible. The Holy Spirit will guide you.

Let’s then pursue holiness and live for Him.