Scaling the High Bar

“It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable… and that in this matter no one should wrong his brother or take advantage of him.”

1 Thessalonians 4:3-6

God telling me that I should be holy is like his telling me to scale the high jump at a track meet. But wait. Who’s that in front of the high bar? Could it be? Yes, it’s the Lord. And he’s there to give me a knee up.

In fact, Jesus even helps me pace myself as I take a run at the jump. The first step is to “avoid sexual immorality.” That means “just say no.” Turn on the keys to the ignition and leave. Hang up the phone. Turn off the TV. Cancel the subscription. Having taken this first step, I’m closer to the high bar.

Second, “Control [your] own body in a way that is holy and honorable.” In other words, value your body. Call the media a liar when it sells beauty cheap. God did not create body parts. He created you.

Third, “No one should wrong his brother or take advantage of him.” Don’t be a fake. Don’t entice others. Be honest with yourself. Admit that you can’t handle temptation.

Lo and behold, you are up and over the high bar of holy living, all because you paced yourself with Jesus at your side. Don’t think that God’s will for you to be holy is too high a standard. He’s provided graceful steps for you to get a good running start. Now all you have to do is take them.

Lord, take me now to the level of excellence that you desire for me. Lift me up. Encourage and empower me to take these small but important steps of obedience in order to more easily scale your high standards.