“be holy yourselves in all your conduct; for it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”” 1 Peter 1:15-16
If you’ve ever been on an airline flight, you’ve heard the flight attendant instructions in the event of loss of cabin pressure, masks will drop from the ceiling. Pull on the line to activate the flow of oxygen, put your mask on first before helping children and others.
That’s strange and difficult to think of – “why would I selfishly save myself first when my loved one is in dire need of help?” But, in this crisis situation, how can you help your loved one, if you end up unconscious from lack of oxygen?
It is the same with a spiritual life. The world is in crisis. So many of our most loved, friends and strangers around us are in dire need of rescue. But, how can we rescue even the most critically endangered if we ourselves are spiritually at risk?
How can we help someone grow to holiness in a world with an environment worse than an airless airplane cabin? If we aren’t secure in our faith, those we seek to help will be cause (even if unwittingly) of our demise.
We must seek first to become holy, sanctified before we can dare to risk helping another. Putting on that oxygen mask doesn’t mean we are now perfect and safe. No, it just means we can breath now and turn to help our neighbor get to the same place of safety.
Putting on our ‘mask’ first, allows us to be safe in the environment. It is then, as a holier more sanctified soul, that we can turn to those next to us to help them also come to the same place of safety. They will be able to draw strength upon the fact that we are showing them safely in Christ by first putting on Christ.
“first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor’s eye.” Matthew 7:5
“So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift.” Matthew 5:23-24