Be Holy

My daughter was busy making a pot of chicken chili for us to enjoy. As the pot got warm she reached for a wooden spoon to stir with.

“Not that spoon!” Joyce said as she reached for the spoon. “That’s the bread spoon.”

“Oh,” she said, “I forgot.” And she handed her mother the spoon.

It was an honest mistake. In the crock with all the spoons and spatulas there is one special spoon. It is a long-handled spoon that was hand carved by an uncle of Joyce’s. It is used for only one purpose - the making of bread. We make sure that no other smells or flavors touch that spoon so that it will not affect the flavor of the bread.

We all know this and respect the special purpose of the bread spoon. The reason is simple. We love the taste of Joyce’s homemade bread.

When I think about the bread spoon I am reminded of the meaning of holiness. The meaning of holiness is to be set apart for God’s purpose. Likewise, Joyce’s wooden spoon is set apart for one purpose and if the spoon is used for any other purpose it can become tainted. If we give ourselves to an unholy purpose we too will become tainted.  

¹⁵ But as the One who called you is holy, you also are to be holy in all your conduct; ¹⁶ for it is written, Be holy, because I am holy. (1 Peter1:15-16 HCSB)

When we keep ourselves holy we will have joy in our lives because we are living according to God’s holy purpose.

Bro. Robin