Holy Isn’t Boring

Read

John 10:10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

Think

There’s a common myth that holiness is where joy goes to die. You’ve probably felt the tension before. A night out with friends turns rowdy, and you wonder if staying sober makes you uptight. Everyone in your friend group is binging the latest explicit show, and you’re stuck wondering whether holiness means sitting this one out. The message our world sends is loud and clear: holy people are repressed, boring, and completely out of touch.

But what if the opposite is true? What if holiness isn’t the absence of joy, but the gateway to it? In John 10:10, Jesus contrasts two agendas. The enemy comes to steal, kill, and destroy. That’s his mission. He doesn’t need to turn you into a criminal—he just wants to hollow out your soul and dress it up as freedom. But Jesus? He comes to give life—real, vibrant, full life. And the path to that life is holiness.

Think of the most alive person you know. Chances are, they’re not the one chasing trends or drowning in guilt. They’re probably someone who lives with peace, integrity, and clarity. That’s what holiness looks like in real life. It’s not prudish. It’s powerful. Holiness says: I don’t need to compromise to be content. I don’t have to numb out to feel alive. I’ve found something better.

The truth is, sin doesn’t make life exciting. It just makes life noisy. We confuse stimulation for satisfaction, speed for purpose, hype for joy. But sin always takes more than it gives. It lures you with promises and leaves you emptier than before. Holiness, on the other hand, fills. It roots. It renews.

A.W. Tozer once wrote, “The holy man is not one who cannot sin. He is one who will not sin because he loves God too much.” That’s the heart of holiness—it’s not fear-based restraint. It’s love-fueled resolve. When you truly know Jesus, when you’ve tasted grace and glimpsed the beauty of his way, you begin to want what he wants. And what he wants isn’t your boredom—it’s your flourishing.

That doesn’t mean following Jesus is always easy or culturally applauded. But it does mean it’s worth it. Holiness brings freedom that fake pleasure never can. It gives you a clean conscience, unshakable peace, and a purpose bigger than whatever’s trending.

And don’t forget—Jesus had more joy than anyone (Hebrews 1:9). He laughed. He feasted. He embraced kids. He turned water into wine and flipped tables in temples. He was holy and fully alive, unafraid to stand out but never disconnected from the world around him. That’s the picture of holiness we need—not sterile distance, but embodied love.

You weren’t made to just avoid sin. You were made to enjoy God. That’s the secret: holiness isn’t about running from bad stuff. It’s about running toward the best thing—Jesus himself.

Apply

Celebrate holiness today. Make space for godly joy. Plan something fun tonight that honors God—whether it’s a slow dinner with friends, a hike with worship music, or game night with zero compromise. Show yourself (and others) that holiness and joy belong together.

Pray

Jesus, thank you that holiness isn’t about what I miss out on—it’s about what I step into. I confess I’ve believed the lie that sin is more exciting. Fill me with your life today. Make me holy, and make me whole. In Jesus’ name. Amen.