Choose Holiness

"But as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, 'You shall be holy, for I am holy.'"1Peter 1:15-16

What does it mean to be Holy?
The first thing that comes to mind is to be set apart for God.

The culture seems to use the word ‘holy’ as a descriptive adjective like Holy Moley and so forth. The more I think about what holiness is it seems very irreverent to use Holy in any other way but to describe our creator. I especially hate to hear the word holy used with a swear word.

So folks what do you say. Can you choose to be holy in all manner of living this includes your life in front of others or in private.

PRAYER: I want to do things to emulate you Lord so help me stay on that path. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Holy, Holy,Holy🎼

But as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct. 1 Peter 1:15

I love the old hymn ‘Holy,Holy,Holy’ and I love to sing it. What does it mean to be Holy? The definition is dedicated or consecrated to God or a religious purpose; sacred: 

Several years ago I used to always flippantly say ‘Holy Cow’ Or ‘Holy Moley’ until a sweet prayer sister who was on a car journey with me to a retreat could take it no more and had the courage to say “Hey Becky only God is Holy” and from that day forward I try to not say it. 

It is a cutesy thing for some such as a business near me called ‘Holy Cow’. It isn’t necessarily taking the Lord’s name in vain like when you use ‘God’ in a disrespectful way. But maybe this writing will bring conviction on you as well.  I will save that for another devotion. Not meaning to be legalistic but to make you think. 

PRAYER: Oh Lord help me be Holy as you are Holy and to grasp what that really means. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

No Escape From Holiness

Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. Hebrews 12:14

What exactly does it mean to be holy? The Bing online dictionary says it is to "be dedicated or consecrated to God or a religious purpose; sacred." Many places in the word of God it refers to being holy. We as believers are to pursue it, or go after it. There is no escaping the fact that God wants His followers to walk in holiness or have holy behavior. 

Lately allot of compromise has been done and you don't hear the word 'holy' in many circles. Still we are to pursue it and not a politically correct version of a watered down Bible. God is God and His word never changes. 1 Peter 1:16 says "Be Holy for I am Holy."

Is your life one of holiness or running away from what you know to be the truth? Is your heart right with God? Do you love your neighbor as yourself? Really? Just some points to think about. 

PRAYER: Father there have been times when I have acted less than holy and I ask forgiveness. I know to be Holy is not referring to me chanting or wearing robes but living a lifestyle pleasing to you. Keep me from stumbling Lord. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Happiness Versus Holiness

He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. Hebrews 11:25

Have you ever heard the verse above before? Sin is enticing yet in the times we live in many forget sometimes what is wrong and thus sinful and what is right or in other words Holy  and pleasing to God. Our goal in life should not be to just be happy but to be happy as well as Holy. There are those who make fun of the acronym WWJD or 'what would Jesus do' but in fact maybe that is a good thing to ask ourselves sometimes. 

Today many things are justified as okay and more people are concerned about being politically correct more than 'God correct'. This is a dangerous and sad state of affairs. When trying to make your own interpretation of what you think God meant by marriage for instance. Another one would be marriage vows taken so lightly even by Christians. Deciding that is it okay to do away with life in the womb. Just so many areas where we have no business determining right and wrong. Now everyone has sinned and no sin is the big one. Also we are not to judge but indeed stay on your knees and ask God to help you discern good from evil.

Whatever you have done you can go to God and He can and will forgive you and can set you free to live a life of righteousness. You can be happy and be Holy too!

PRAYER: Lord I know you love the sinner and we are all sinners. Help those people caught up in so many lies that cannot see the real truth in your word. Open blind eyes to live a life of Holiness. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Holy Superiority

The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other people--robbers, evildoers, adulterers--or even like this tax collector.Luke 18:11(NIV)

I am writing this after getting out of church and the message was about Pharisees and the tax collector. This gave me a brilliant idea for a devotion. There are so many different denominations of Christian churches and various ways to worship. To feel our Christian domination is THE way or the only way is wrong. First of all, everyone who names the name of Jesus should be on the same team. If l become prideful  like "my way or the highway" then that is sort of Phariseeish. I am pretty sure there are not going to be denominations in heaven because I feel we will be unified in praising and worshipping God as the Spirit leads us. 

There is not a person I know that does not need Jesus. Churches are not for perfect people because none of us are. No one has "arrived" so beware having that attitude.  Also church membership does not save you. Satan just loves to have Christians arguing about who knows best. Why not just concentrate on praising Jesus and not condemning the unsaved or your brother and sister in Christ?

PRAYER: Lord Jesus I thank you that I know I have not got all the answers. I learn more each day. I want to strive for holiness as you are Holy. In Jesus' name. Amen. 

HOLY?

What does it mean to be holy? Webster's defines it as "exalted or worthy of complete devotion, divine, religious or morally good".

Many verses in the Bible deal with holiness and being holy. One of them is 1 Peter 1:16 (NIV) which says 'for it is written, "be holy for I am Holy".  In every area of life we should be seeking to be more Christlike. Whatever we say or do, we as a believer, should want to bring glory to Jesus. Think about your day to day life for a moment. Do you interact with your fellow man in a holy manner? I am not saying to be "holier than thou" but are you an example for the body of Christ?

Meditate for a moment on the majesty, awesomeness, and Holiness of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ. Stop and lift your hands in the air and praise Him. He alone is mighty, powerful, loving and forgiving. He is mighty to save and He does.  In 1 Samuel 2:2 in the Old Testament it says ' There is none holy like the Lord, there is none besides You; there is no Rock like our God.'

PRAYER: I want to act in a holy manner as I go about my daily life Lord. I do not want to act self righteous and better than others but I want to seek to be holy as you are Holy. In Jesus' name. Amen.