Leviticus 11:44 The world, since Genesis 3, has been in a world of hurt and sin (putting it mildly). It has made rules that God doesn’t ask for, and disregards the rules God does prescribe. And it hasn’t stopped. So how do we become different in this world while living in it? It is often very difficult but the key thing is to remember the words of the One who created the world and humans, and not the one who deceived humans and twisted the world. To be everyday saints, we must be holy and think and act as holy beings, despite our sinful nature.
Questions for further thought: 1. What does it mean in your life to be holy? 2. Where are the areas in your life in which, frankly, more holiness might be needed? Challenge: Lord Jesus, we do know that we need to be different, and we need to be “in the world, not of it.” Help us to become more holy in the way you want us to be, as we know we neither understand nor can do alone. In your name, Amen.
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3/15/2024 0 Comments Next StepsThere are a few more scripture references today than normal, but there are so many verses that reference holiness and how to move towards and lead a more holy life. Being self-controlled in what you say and do, giving thanks in all circumstances, not conforming according to our own evil desires but to what God desires, ensuring that God is glorified in your actions towards others. These are but a few actions that will lead you to holiness. We can't get there on our own. The Spirit will lead you if you let Him.
Questions for further thought: 1. What steps will you commit to today to work towards holiness? 2. What do you need to turn from? Challenge: Pray that you can implement steps to turn from sin and to lead a holy life. Every circumstance is an opportunity to offer prayers of thanks and praise. Do this throughout the day and see how Jesus will work in your life. 3/14/2024 0 Comments A Small Dose of TruthWhen the psalmist prayed for focused attention and a receptive heart, he was not preparing for a legalistic, mechanical quiet time. He was coming to Scripture in recognition of his need and reaching out to the Great Physician for a prescription to fill his emptiness. Scripture is our daily dose of truth. A small daily filling of God's Word, received with focused attention is better than a large gulp received with little thought and quickly forgotten.
Questions for further thought: 1. Are you getting your daily dose of God's Word? 2. If not, what can you do to change? Challenge: Start small. Take small doses and really focus on what you are taking in. Some find it helpful to read Scripture as a prayer. Experiment with methods that help you hear what God has for you every day. Again, commit to daily time in Scripture. 3/13/2024 0 Comments ObedienceThere is no holiness without obedience. As Peter hints in verse 2, the Spirit’s sanctifying work is done so that we may be obedient to Christ. The heroes of the faith "obeyed by faith" (Hebrews 11) - obedience is the pathway to holiness. Paul gives us some advice as pertains to the steps to holiness: Prepare your minds. Think about the things that would please God. Have self-control in your thought life, your language, your interactions with others, in everything you do.
Questions for further thought: 1. Where do your thoughts naturally go? 2. How can you "renew your mind"? Challenge: Pray for the ability to control your thought life. The world holds many distractions and tempts us to engage in thoughts and desires that are contrary to God. Be on the lookout and flee from things that lead you away from God. 3/12/2024 0 Comments Your PurposeOf all the goals we have for our life, the most important is to pursue holiness because it is God's goal for our life. If we truly love God, we will commit to making holiness the primary purpose for our life. By the Holy Spirit we are sanctified. The Spirit sets us apart in Christ so that we may be saved. The Spirit also works in us so that we can be obedient to Christ. The Spirit exposes our sin so that we may turn away from it, helps us to understand Scripture, and helps us to see the glory of Christ.
Questions for further thought: 1. Have you accepted entrance of the Holy Spirit into your life? 2. How do you know? Challenge: The Spirit is always willing to provide us with the ability to become more holy. This is the primary reason why we must not "resist" (Acts 7:51) or "quench" (1 Thessalonians 5:19) the Spirit. 3/11/2024 0 Comments HolinessAmong God's characteristics, as He has revealed Himself, none is more significant than His holiness. "Holy" and "holiness" are mentioned more than 900 times in Scripture. Both the Old and New Testaments speak more about holiness than any other attribute. Christ's work on the cross does not just save us from sin, He also saves us so that we can become more holy (Ephesians 1:3-4). He desires us to be holy because He is holy.
Questions for further thought: 1. What is holiness? 2. Are you moving towards becoming more holy? Challenge: Ask Jesus to teach you, through the work of the Holy Spirit, how to discern God's purpose for your life and how that relates to your holiness. 3/8/2024 0 Comments Growing Into HolinessPhilippians 3:12-16 We can’t become any more “holy” than we are the moment we decide to give our lives to Jesus. At that moment, we are dedicated to God. The “holiness” we talk about is a desire to become more like Jesus – to better represent our God. This is a process that Paul talks about in this verse. And if Paul said that he hadn’t “arrived” yet, we need to give ourselves some grace as well. We are saints not because we feel like it every minute of every day, but because God says we are because of faith in and commitment to His Son.
Questions for further thought: 1. What do you do on a daily basis to strengthen your relationship with God? 2. When you feel stuck as you press on toward the goal, how do you get moving again? Challenge: Positive affirmations. Have you heard of them? They are short statements that can help you have a more positive view of yourself and your day. Some people write them on sticky notes and place them where they will see them daily. Write out “I am a child of the King and therefore I am holy” and say it out loud first thing in the morning. Repeat it throughout your day for 30 days. 3/7/2024 0 Comments I Sure Don't Feel HolyPhilippians 3:8-9, 2:13 When we think of ourselves as representatives of God, we can often feel very unholy. We know that we do not seem to be achieving the spiritual growth we hoped for. Remember one thing when you are feeling discouraged. As Paul states in the first verse, our standing with God doesn’t depend on our accomplishments, but on faith. We are holy because we are His, even when we don’t feel like it. Trust in Jesus and His work on the cross and know that He is always at work in your life.
Questions for further thought: 1. In what area of your spiritual life do you most struggle with feelings of inadequacy? 2. When you have moments (or days) when you feel like a defective saint, how do you reset? Challenge: Some days I wish I had a banner around me, like a beauty queen, that says “I am a child of God”. This banner would not be as much for others as it would be for me, a reminder of whose I am. Song of Solomon 2:4b says “His banner over me is love”. As you move through your day envision that banner! And show His love! 3/6/2024 0 Comments Why Is Holiness Important?1 Peter 2:9-10 “Holiness” can be a confusing word. We think of it as describing how we should think and act. That is not wrong. But the root of behavior is the depth of our dedication – our set-apartness – to God. He has called us to be a set-apart people in order to display His character to the world. We are His priests, a holy (dedicated) people. That’s the point and the importance of holiness.
Questions for further thought: 1. How do you think you’re doing (in general) as a priest for God? 2. What area (or areas) do you most need to work with God on? Challenge: In our world, marketing is everything to a brand. A recent challenge I have asked myself is “Am I a good marketing tool for Jesus?”. Ask yourself this same question. 3/5/2024 0 Comments How Do We Become Holy?Ephesians 2:8-9 You’ve likely heard the expression, “Holier than thou.” It’s not a compliment. It refers to an attitude of superiority based on the fact that an individual follows Christ better (in their eyes) than someone else. The fact is, we don’t become holy by our own efforts. We are made holy in God’s eyes by the grace of God available through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. Only God can set us apart and make us worthy of His service and His kingdom.
Questions for further thought: 1. Do you struggle with feelings of superiority toward unbelievers? Or does your struggle come when you compare yourself to other believers? 2. Our verse says that we are saved through faith, not works. How do our works fit into a holy life? Challenge: Evaluate your actions this week and assess your motivation for service to others. Ask God to help you with your assessment. |
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