1 Peter 1:16

"Because it is written, Be ye
holy, for I am holy."

What does it mean to be holy? One dictionary definition says, "specially recognized as or declared sacred by religious use or authority; consecrated." Another states, "dedicated or devoted to the service of God, the church, or religion." Pretty good descriptions. The best I ever heard it defined is, set apart. I like that. God himself is truly holy. He is our example of what we should seek after. Do I mean being high and lofty above all else? Of course not. Holy or holiness, is taking on the character and attributes of God in our own life. So the logical question is, what is God like. That's a pretty big answer. The bible describes Him in so many ways, I would have to type for days. I will just give a few examples. God loves unconditionally. God is fair, righteous, true, firm, loving, compassionate, also having correct judgment on any issue. He's everything we are not, but should desire to be. Most people believe that being holy is some kind of ceremonial thing with pomp and circumstance. Not so. We are to be holy on a daily basis, and can I tell you, that is a tall order. Once we are in Christ, our natural desire should want to be like the one who saved us! Once we start to know Him in an intimate way and understand who He truly is, we can't help but want to be like that. Even Paul the greatest apostle who ever lived struggled with this. "For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate." Romans 7:15 New American standard. Notice Paul says, at the end, what I would like to do. His desire was to be holy and pleasing to God. Our Sin nature, the flesh , the devil, it all gets in the way at times. That's why we have the Holy spirit to help us daily. The bible describes Him as a helper. A powerful one at that. Recently, God revealed to me that the past is past, leave it there and keep moving forward. I believe that as we grow closer to Him, we will become more like him. The things that draw us away, will just fade. Once we are in Christ, we are holy, set apart. We are different than what we used to be and what most of the world is like. This week, I would ask that you seek Him with all your heart and desire an intimate relationship with Him. In this dark and dying world, only one thing can truly satisfy, that is Jesus!!!! Be blessed


Bob.

Romans 5:8

"But God commendeth his love towards us,
in that, while we were yet sinners,
Christ died for us."

Wow! This verse has been on my heart as of late. It truly speaks volumes. You see, all of humanity has one thing in common. We were all born sinners. We were all born apart from God. That's the whole reason Christ came and died on the cross for us. To pay once and for all the final ransom for sin, and to make a way for us to have access to the Father again. Yet, while we were in that state, God and His love was there for us waiting to grab a hold. In all our wretchedness apart from Christ, He loved us. The bible says that we love Him because He first loved us. 1 John 4:19. The logical question though is, why? That is one of the hardest questions I have had to wrestle with as a Christian. You see, I look at myself and all my shortcomings and think, " God could never love me, I keep messing up all the time." That is so opposite of what the bible teaches! When God looks at us after we accept Jesus as our personal savior, He see's perfection. We received the imputed righteousness of Christ upon that day we were saved. Now, God see's the finished product. We don't because we are still here on this earth. Once we realize that? FREEDOM! Freedom from the bondage of a work based relationship with God. We can't work our way into heaven or God's acceptance. It's all based on the finished work of Jesus Christ. I know who I am. I know I am a sinner saved by grace. Grace is what I/we survive on now. If we had to survive on what we've done day to day, we wouldn't make it out the door to work. God knew who I was before I accepted Him. He knows who you were to. He knows the countless thousands out there as well who still need to accept Him. Yet, because He loved and still loves us, He has an outstretched hand still saying, feel the imprint of the nail, touch the scar. It's real, I did this for you because I am madly in love with you. Knowing what I know now after all these years, I don't see how any rational person who does a real true study of God's word and who He is, could reject Him. It's Love man. Real Love. Unconditional, unmerited, Love. The kind we all crave but, don't understand or know how to make it real in our lives. God does, and want's to show anyone and everyone who comes to Him. That's the God I serve. If you don't know Him, please, seek Him and make the decision for yourself. He loved you so much, He died for you. He made a way.

Be blessed. Bob