grieve, mourn and wail

we had a bible study on the overview of the OT on sunday. and so we came to the application part asking on the question regarding holiness. the question goes like this:

throughout this period of history, Israel and her kings refuse to be God's holy people. as followers of Jesus we also are called to be holy (1 Pet. 1:13-16).
a. what does this mean in practical term?
b. how are you going at this? is there any real difference between your life and attitudes and those of your non-cn friends? why, or why not? *

having come to the study thus far, i can only conclude that God's judgement was dead serious as He had been warning since the very beginning. it's a matter of life and death. obedience means life and disobedience will only result in death. however, tainted by adam's sin, it means that human beings have no hope of their own. how great is the love that God has lavished on us that we should be called his children. my imperfect track record will only be swallowed by Christ's perfection. i know this thus far.

ps. i happened to sneak through to the answers of the person sitting next to me (sound dodgy, but i didn't do it on purpose, my eyes were fixed as i turned my head around, sorry hin! :)

* "i don't know. i tried. hahaha"

i thought it was an honest non-textbook answer despite the lack of sound theology (hehe, i'm only kidding!). i ought going back to this question myself as i'd also only been putting a quick thought at it.

James 4:7-10
Submit yourselves then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.