Be holy

I can't give up this thought process about holiness yet. It seems we have some of the same problems that were going on in the Roman & Corinthian church in Paul's day. In Romans 14 and I Corinthians 8, Paul is addressing eating food offered to idols. He tells the people it's ok to eat food offered to idols, but if eating that food causes a brother to stumble, you aren't walking in love. He also says that if you eat and you have any doubts about eating, you stand condemned before the Lord because you're not being true to your convictions and you don't act out of faith. He instructs the people to walk in love towards their brothers. I Corinthians 8:9 says, "Only be careful that this power of choice (this permission and liberty to do as you please) which is yours, does not (somehow) become a hindrance (cause of stumbling) to the weak or overscrupulous (giving them an impulse to sin)."
My point is that we should live holy lives. We should love our Christian brothers and sisters more than ourselves---and especially more than food offered to idols!! Actually, that's what Paul says in Romans 14:17, "[After all] the kingdom of God is not a matter of [getting the] food and drink [one likes], but instead it is righteousness (that state which makes a person acceptable to God) and [heart] peace and joy in the Holy Spirit."
I'm learning that I'm a very selfish person. I think about myself more than I do others. This year, I want to live a holy life--a life set apart for Christ. I want to love others more than I do myself. As I see the day of the Lord approaching, I want to be looking up and I want to be a pure bride ready to receive my bridegroom! I want to be holy as He is holy.
I Corinthians 6:12
"Everything is permissible for me"—but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible for me"—but I will not be mastered by anything.