Today’s Reading:
I Peter 1:13-16
“But be holy now in everything you do just as the Lord is holy, who invited you to be his child.”
( I Peter 1:15 TLB)
Holiness is not one of many options a child of God has, it is the only option. It is not negotiable, debatable or for bargaining. In secular schools, some courses are optional while some courses are core and a failure in those core courses means no promotion or graduation for that student. Similarly, in the School of the Spirit and in our walk with God, holiness is a core or compulsory course as it does not have other options. Children of the world are not called to be holy because holiness is alien to them. Their first step to knowing God is salvation. Holiness is the language and lifestyle of a child of God. Without holiness no man shall see the Lord (Heb. 12:14). God gave the command and for anything we call a command; it must be obeyed to the letter.
Holiness is a state or condition of being holy, pure, and sanctimonious, without stain, wrinkle or spot. Holiness means running away from sin or abstaining from all appearances of evil. It is being pure within and without. The above passage quantifies the level of holiness expected of every child of God ...in everything you do. Holiness is expected to pervade and radiate every aspect of a child of God. It must be seen in the way you talk (Colossians 3:17, 4:6). Holiness must be obvious in the way you dress (I Peter 3:3-4). A child of God who claims that it is only the heart God is looking at and dresses anyhow especially revealing some sensitive parts of the body, the salvation of such persons are questionable. You cannot claim to be holy and it will not reflect in your dressing. This is not to give rules on the nature of clothes to wear but one thing is certain, you can’t be a carrier of God and dress senselessly, it’s impossible.
Holiness is the key to enter heaven. You can be a giver and miss heaven, you can be a preacher yet miss heaven, in fact you can perform miracles and still miss heaven but you cannot be holy and miss heaven. You can deceive people by pretending that you are holy but you can’t deceive God. One of the ways you can measure or check whether you are holy is your thoughts. What goes on in your heart, lust, malice, hatred, lies etc. The matter of the heart is the heart of the matter. Holiness starts from the heart, once a man is circumcised (Circumcision of the heart) the result will be evident. Why not visit Calvary today for the cleansing blood of the Lamb?
JAMES ALADE
Prayer:
Father, thank You for your love, care and mercy on us all, in Jesus name.
Thank You for the salvation of our souls, in Jesus name.
Father, I confess my sins today, forgive and cleanse me from all unrighteousness, in Jesus name.
O Lord come into my heart afresh, in Jesus name.
Lord, purify me with your blood within and without in Jesus name.
Lord create in me a pure heart and renew a right and humble spirit within me, in Jesus name.
I receive grace to live a holy life henceforth, in Jesus name.
Lord visit the body of Christ afresh with your mercy, in Jesus name.
Lord visit our nation with your healing, deliverance, salvation and Your transformation, in Jesus name.
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