From Frogs to Holiness

From Frogs to Holiness

Living a Purposeful, Holy Life – Thoughts from Our Impact Alumni

You may have heard the story about how to boil a frog.  But in case you haven’t I’d like to share it with you.  

To boil a frog, you get a pot of water, add frog.  Then little by little you add heat so that the frog doesn’t realize that the water is getting warmer.  After a while, you will have the water to a nice hot rolling boil.  The frog won’t even realize it because of the incremental increase of heat.  You can use your imagination as to what happens to the frog.

To be truthful, that is the way we as Christians tend to be.  We allow a little sin in our life, maybe it’s looking at videos we ought not be watching.  At first it is uncomfortable and the loving conviction of the Holy Ghost is strong and we repent and promise to never repeat the offense.  Then it happens again.  Then we justify it—that it happened so quickly and “it’s under the blood and God’s grace is sufficient”.  But this time you watch a little longer, ignoring the tug of conviction.  Then again.  And again.  Until the web of this sin has you bound so tight you don’t even recognize it as sin.  You become immune to the tug and conviction that once you were so sensitive to recognize. 

Maybe it’s not “those kinds of videos” that have you bound, but maybe laughing at inappropriate jokes, or gossip, or jealousy, envy or cheating on a test, or speaking ill against a Pastor, President, Parent.  Perhaps it’s unforgiveness.  Everyone knows “it is ok to miss church” every so often, until it becomes nearly every week…but we watch the live stream….until we miss it one Sunday, then another and then three months have passed and we don’t even know what is going on in our trusted body of believers.

“Set your hope wholly and unchangeably on the grace that is coming to you when Jesus Christ is revealed…”

Whatever stands in the way of you and a clean line to our loving Father is sin.  The Word of God says in 1 Peter 1: 13-16

13 So brace up your minds; be sober (circumspect, morally alert); set your hope wholly and unchangeably on the grace (divine favor) that is coming to you when Jesus Christ (the Messiah) is revealed. 

14 [Live] as children of obedience [to God]; do not conform yourselves to the evil desires [that governed you] in your former ignorance [when you did not know the requirements of the Gospel].

15 But as the One Who called you is holy, you yourselves also be holy in all your conduct and manner of living.

16 For it is written, You shall be holy, for I am holy.

Peter is encouraging those in this scripture—those that are persecuted (those that are hostile toward you) to be sober and vigilant and to be purposeful in living a holy life.  Our enemy the devil is most definitely hostile towards believers. 

Your affections and motivations are set on Jesus, not on this world

To live holy means that you are sanctified and set apart.  Living holy = a posture of living with Godly character.  Your affections and motivations are set on HIM not on things of this world.  Thank God for Jesus and His shed blood that makes a way of reconciliation back to Him when we fail!  God knows we are not perfect but that should not be an excuse to apply shady grace to our lives. When we know Jesus, it should motivate us to live a way that people around us know we are different without having to tell everyone we are a Christians.  Live in a way that it draws others to salvation, become a living testament.

Thank God for Jesus and His shed blood that makes a way of reconciliation!

This brings me here.  In the time we are living in, if we do not live with holiness, the character of God, then when things really begin to heat up we can’t be alert and diligent to recognize the heat.  

If you have trouble with an area that you just can’t get a hold of, reach out to a trusted friend, pastor or counselor.  We were never meant to walk alone.  God made us to be in relationship with other like minded believers.    Sometimes sin continues because we are ashamed of it and it is easy to hide it.  Let’s grow up, call it what it is, accept responsibility and repent so we can walk in the freedom that Jesus died for.

I encourage myself and you, let holiness be the barometer in which we live our lives and judge our motives, attitude and behavior, or we may end up like that frog. 

Much love to you!  

“Mama D”

Author: Debra Jordan- Impact University 2019 Graduate Bachelor’s Degree in Christian Counseling