Holiness and Righeousness

OK. So I'm working on a series of blogs about modern day Bible texts and what some of the terms mean in regards to versions of the Bible that you can purchase.

After years of study and an undergraduate degree in Bible allow me to point out one thing:
If you're a Christian, your goal is not to know more, it is to BE HOLY!

Holiness is your calling. Not knowledge. Studying the Bible is a profitable pastime and it is something that we find many holy people in the Bible doing. There are some verses that people learn at a young age

Thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against thee.

That's all well, fine and good but anytime you get into a dry, academic study of verses or concepts or a discussion of the relative merits of whatever philosophical bent you happen to have this month, you would do your own soul well to remember that the focus should be on the Holiness of Jehovah and it would be to your betterment to seek after a holy nature.

Remember (Romans) you have already been declared Righteous. Righteousness is a positional concept (dry conversation again). You are already the "righteousness of Christ" but you are called to be holy.

Study, "work out your salvation with fear and trembling", delve into what you believe but at all times be humble to the point of knowing with a steadfast certainty that the better thing at any given time is to seek after holiness.

I say this not because I've mastered it. Truly I am as far from humility as I've ever known myself to be. I fear the submission that comes with actively seeking the presence of God in my life. However, for those of you who are interested in growth and Christian maturity, you should always be prepared to follow an opportunity to pracice holiness in your own life.

Just my $0.02.

Thanks for reading,

Kevin