Holiness is by no means something to be taken lightly. Purity is achieved through obedience to the Word. God calls us to be different, set apart, uncomformed to the world. Charles Stanley says that being a Christian in the world is like kind of like asking an elegant lady in a white dress to to work in the coal mines - the soot will stain her and leave its mark. For sure God's plan and role is to intervene for us and provide a way of escape from the habits and lifestyles that often surround us. The world screams for ungodliness. Selfishness, materialism, pride, ungratefulness, dishonesty, and lust are characteristics that seem to define our culture. Do these things rub off? Do they leave their mark on me? For sure. I hate conforming to the world. I hate being rubbed off onto by the world. I hate knowing in my heart that I made the wrong choice, ventured down the wrong path, said the wrong words - conformed. All conformity to world does in my life is create a barrier between Jesus and me. No doubt His forgiveness abounds and His love endures through my sin, but I want more. I will never "deserve" His love. I can never "earn" His acceptance. But what I desire is please my Lord. He has done so much for me that I desire for Him to look upon me with favor and peace. I want Him to see in me a faithful follower who will journey to the end without waivering to one side or the other. When Jesus sees me I want to bring a smile to His heart. Indeed, I may not understand His love. Perhaps His mercy is so great that He never stops smiling, never stops finding favor with me, never stops viewing me as a faithful servant. But I know I can do better. It is written in James that faith alone is dead. Faith should be accompanied with works. I want to show Jesus my faith in Him by what I do - by the life that I live. It can be hard. He came to serve and I often feel put out to serve others. He came to minister to the needy and I rarely stop for the homeless. He came to be a light and I feel like all I do sometimes is cast a shadow on the light of others. I'm fed up with being stained by the world. I have no excuse. I know the truth. For a man to know the way to live and live a contrary life is a shame. Shame no more. I am a fighter. I desire to fight the good fight. Satan, the world, and my flesh are on a mission to destroy, but I need only God to defeat all my enemies. As far as the east is from the west so far has He removed our transgressions from us. He will empower to victory. He will comfort, protect, provide, shelter, and strengthen those whose hope is in Him. God knows no fear. He does not give us a spirit of fear, but a spirit of power. Living for Him may not be the world's way, nor is it easy. Living for God may be stressful and frustrating. But living for God is the only real form of living - period. Everything else is dying early. He came to give life and give it more abundantly. I pray that I will fully grasp this concept. I need Jesus more than I need this life. Without Him life is an impossible misery. Forgive me, Jesus, for my shortsightedness and selfishness. Please help me keep my eyes and my heart fully focused on You. Give me the strength to follow Your example for life. Give me the ability to forsake myself. Bless me with a vision to see doorways to overcome temptation and the courage to walk through them. Remove any sin from my life so that I may be filled with righteousness. I truly want us to become closer. I want to know You. Yes, I want to know You.