Holiness Matters

Micah J. Sturm

Our homes are beautifully decorated with all the signs of Christmas. Wreaths, garland, and lights are everywhere!

The centerpiece of the home is the tree.

Lights gleam and glow from each branch, the ribbon shimmers in the gentle light, and around it we gather with those we love to exchange gifts. We hang special ornaments on our tree every year—sentimental reminders and markers of significant events. There’s the first ornament we got after we were married, Baby’s First Christmas ornament, and even the ornament that looks like our pet!

The centerpiece of the cosmos is Jesus Christ. “In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:4-5).

Around Him we gather and rejoice.

We echo Peter’s testimony—“the God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him” (Acts 5:30-32).

Our hearts bear the marks of his grace—rescued from our sins, hearts made pure and filled with perfect love, and the daily growth in Christlikeness—“like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season” (Psalm 1:3).

The Spirit of Christmas is the fulfillment of God’s promise that holiness should be housed in humanity!

We are made free because Christ hung on a tree. His power over sin and death ensures our victory.

Now, “we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him all our days” (Luke 1:74-75) and “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23).

The question, then, must be—what’s on your tree?

Micah J. Sturm

Jesus is a difference-maker.

He changed my life!

With such gracious transformation, came a deep desire to make a difference for Christ.

A call from Him to preach as a teenager only intensified that desire in me.

For 30 years I have seen people respond to the Lord at altars in prayer, in my office during counseling sessions, in hospital waiting rooms, living rooms, restaurants, or over the phone in the middle of the night.

If the Church ceases to make a difference in the world, then are we really His?

I want to be a difference-maker!

Leave a mark for the Lord wherever you go:

“…love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control…” (Galatians 5:22-23 ESV).

By the way, if you simply live in deep love with Jesus, you’ll be making a difference even when you’re not aware of it…I guarantee!

Holiness is love in action and it’s a difference maker!

Micah J. Sturm

“The name was adopted from Latin adventus “coming; arrival”, translating Greek parousia.

Thus, the season of Advent in the Christian calendar anticipates the “coming of Christ” from three different perspectives:

the physical nativity in Bethlehem, the reception of Christ in the heart of the believer, and the eschatological Second Coming.”

From my perspective, the Christian calendar simply affirms the truth that Christ sanctifies.

It’s the reality that holiness is telling time, rearranging our lives by His life, and keeping every one of His promises.

Here’s the good news, “The King is coming!”

Gratitude is holy.

Those first to criticize are usually the last to contribute.

Hubris must be paid it’s homage.
Arrogance needs attention.

Humility makes no demands and requires no applause.

Holiness is simple.
It is a heart emptied of sin and self that is constantly filled with Christ.

“Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”
‭‭Philippians‬ ‭2‬:‭5‬-‭8‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“He must increase, but I must decrease.”
‭‭John‬ ‭3‬:‭30‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“Lord, please cleanse me of me and make me more like You. Create in me a life of holy thanks.”

Micah J. Sturm

In a recent reading of Ephesians 5, I saw a list of things I’m extremely grateful for:

(1) The “overwhelming, never-ending reckless love of God!” (5:1-2)

(2) The transforming grace of Jesus who delivers from sin! (5:3-10)

(3) The Light is never extinguished by the darkness (5:11-14)

(4) The journey of God-moments that make up my life (5:15-17)

(5) The fullness of the Holy Spirit and living under divine influence (5:18)

(6) The Song in my heart (5:19)

(7) Everything (5:20)

(8) My bride whom I love (5:22)

(9) The Church without which I’d be lost (5:27)

(10) My little girl, who is a beautiful gift from God indeed (6:1-4)

Thank You, Jesus!

Micah J. Sturm

Peter preferred his perspective on the situation over Christ’s perspective.

He received a strong correction from Jesus—“Get behind me, Satan!”

Whenever we become DISTRACTED from God’s Word and His will, we hinder His work.

“Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone wants to become my follower, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.”(Matthew 16:24 NET)

Matthew 16:24 – Τότε ὁ Ἰησοῦς εἶπεν τοῖς μαθηταῖς αὐτοῦ· εἴ τις θέλει ὀπίσω μου ἐλθεῖν, ἀπαρνησάσθω ἑαυτὸν καὶ ἀράτω τὸν σταυρὸν αὐτοῦ καὶ ἀκολουθείτω μοι

It appears that Jesus approves of alliteration:

ἀπαρνησάσθω—“to deny; DISOWN; renounce”

ἀράτω—“to take up; remove; DESTROY”

ἀκολουθείτω—“to follow, accompany, imitate/ DUPLICATE; to be a DISCIPLE”

“Lord, help me to never protect my perspective at the cost of practicing Your plan!”

Micah J. Sturm

Unity is a beautiful thing. Chaos can get ugly.

Apparently, the apostle Paul was not in favor of the level of friction that was present in the Corinthian congregation.

“I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.”

1 Corinthians 1:10 ESV

(1) Unity is being completely devoted to the same purpose in harmony.

Self-centeredness is the fuel of discord.

(2) Unity is a heart issue…only the Enthroned Christ can conquer chaos.

Perfect love stifles strife.

(3) Unity is a gift to be received, not a project to complete.

(Paul uses the PASSIVE voice in 1 Corinthians 1:10…”be united”).

We cannot manufacture unity—we must seek it from the Author of Peace.

(4) Unity must be received and maintained moment-by-moment through a miracle of divine grace.

Holiness is the fuel of real unity.

In His prayer for us, Jesus says unity is lovingly evangelistic:

“I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.”

John 17:23 ESV

Division is Satan’s delight.

The death of divided loves and loyalties that rule our hearts will unleash the unity of the Spirit that heals the broken, revives the Church, and offers peace over chaos.

“God is not a God of confusion but a God of peace. This is the rule for all the meetings of God’s people.”
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭14‬:‭33‬ ‭ERV‬‬

Chaos and unity both begin in the heart—that’s why holiness matters.

Micah J. Sturm

The people of God are exiles.

Homesickness is like carrying the weight of the world. Psalm 137 is the song of the day.

Political agendas and powerful agents create tremendous turmoil for any whose allegiance belongs to the Living God.

Those who “resolve that [we will] not defile [ourselves] with the king’s food, or with the wine that he drinks” (Daniel 1:8) are distinct among a culture of compromise.

Fiery furnaces and lion’s dens are real possibilities.

God uses Daniel and his friends during their exile.

God enables Daniel to make a difference in a hostile environment. Yet, Daniel does not fully understand everything that’s being done in and through him, so he says, “what shall be the outcome of these things?” (Daniel 12:8).

Daniel’s day feels familiar.

We’re far from home and under the weight of the world.

Powerful agents with personal and political agendas seek to eliminate any whose hearts fully belong to Christ.

The answer Daniel received echoes into our moment too—“You keep going till the end” (Daniel 12:13).

I hear encouraging words in Daniel 12 for us today:

“Keep TRUSTING in troubled times” (12:1)

“Keep LEARNING the things of God that makes one wise” (12:3)

“Keep LEADING OTHERS to the Lord” (12:3)

“Keep STEADY even when others sway” (12:4)

“Keep BELIEVING when we don’t understand” (12:8)

Exile doesn’t last forever!

God will bring us home!

Friend, don’t give up…let’s just KEEP GOING!

Discipline is a dirty word. The mere mention of it evokes furrowed brows, frowns, and disdain. The concept has been dismissed as irrelevant and outdated.

The Oxford Dictionary defines discipline as:

(1) the practice of training people to obey rules or a code of behavior, using punishment to correct disobedience;

(2) to train oneself to do something in a controlled and habitual way.

We lack discipline.

We want what we want and we want it now!

The pinnacle of offense is to tell us we cannot have or do something. Excess is the theme—the perpetual pursuit of happiness via material acquisition. We are insatiable. Often the punishment is actually getting exactly what we demanded.

Those in loving union with Christ will be disciplined. Jesus says, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15). Disciples are to be trained and live in such a way that conforms to the criteria of Christ.

Again the Master says, “Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent” (Revelation 3:19).

The disciplined life is one of simplicity, consistency, and conformity to Jesus Christ. It is a daily journey of loving obedience, devotion to the Lord, and help to humanity.

Disciplined disciples do not require the same things that others need. They are defined by the transforming grace of God at work within and through them, not by adhering to current trends of society.

They can see beyond the momentary and get a glimpse of the eternal. Discipline means that they are consistently training by means of prayer, in reading the Scriptures, worshiping together with the church, and helping their neighbors.

They are followers of the One who lived with a singular agenda—to do the will of His Father who sent Him.

There is a cost to disregarding discipline.

Paul testified, “But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified” (1 Corinthians 9:27).

Apparently, we can sabotage our journey with self-indulgence. We have to recapture the truth that there are times when we need to tell ourselves “No!”

“He dies for lack of discipline, and because of his great folly he is led astray.” (Proverbs 5:23 ESV)

We have been badly deceived about discipline. It’s an absolute necessity for every believer in Christ.

Instead of wincing at the word let’s embrace the discipline that makes real disciples.

When the Holy Spirit corrects us (even by using a pastor who’s faithful in proclaiming the Word) we ought to receive it for what it is—genuine love guiding us into a deeper walk with the Lord—making disciples.

Micah J. Sturm

The government is corrupt.

Morality is nearly nonexistent.

Taxes are exorbitant, the economy is struggling, and violence prevails in city streets.

Into this reality, John the Baptist answered the call of God on his life and preached—yes, he PREACHED —it was the method desperately needed in such a chaotic hour!

The Baptist, in holy harshness, stirred up the snakes who slithered in their sanctimonious pride.

Luke 3: 1-18 records that three groups of people come to John the Baptist with the same question—crowds, tax collectors, and soldiers—all ask, “What shall we do?”

His answer echoes to our ears today:

REPENT—turn around and follow the Lord!

RELEASE

Release STUFF

Hold “things” very loosely!

The “crowds” hold on to their stuff and we are called to open our hearts and hands to others as servants of the Lord.

Release SELF-centeredness.

Tax collectors were lonely people because they lived only for themselves. They took advantage of others to promote themselves.

Release the STRUGGLE

Soldiers FIGHT—it’s kind of in their DNA.

We fight too.

But happiness and holiness are connected to contentment.

We must DEFEND LESS and DEPEND MORE.

RECEIVE

Beyond forgiveness is a fiery baptism.

Christ wants to burn up the useless stuff (chaff) in our hearts and lives so we can receive the fullness of joy through His Spirit.

John the Baptist preached,

“The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. He must increase, but I must decrease.” Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.”

John 3:29-30, 36 ESV

Real joy is often unspeakable.

It may rest behind tear stained faces or within heavy hearts.

But it’s there as a gift of God’s grace!

Real joy comes from repentance, release, and receiving the very Spirit of the One for whom the “trees of the field…clap their hands!”

“Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory,”

1 Peter 1:8 ESV