This matter of living holy lives is crucial and critical in our relationship with God. We have been called to live in holiness. Let me put a disclaimer here: Holiness is not a denomination. All of us have been called to live holy lives. Holiness is not relegated to a particular denomination, but to all of God’s people. I remember when I first came to Bethlehem. Because we changed our order of service there were those who accused me of trying to turn a Baptist Church into a Holiness church. All I could do was pray because again, holiness is not based upon how one worships but rather how one lives.
Our Scripture reference today calls upon us to live in holiness. In Romans 12:1, we find:

“And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.”

The writer makes clear the need to live as a living sacrifice to God; that our bodies are the temple of God and that we are living in ways to give God glory and honor. Do not copy behavior and customs of the world but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. It is not just the body, but also the mind. Having a mind of Christ means to love people; not to think of yourself any more highly than you should. Be a living sacrifice acceptable unto the Lord. Holiness is what we yearn for. It is what we are seeking to live for, and we will please God.