Tag Archives: holiness

November 8
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“Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it.  How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live!  They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness.”  (Hebrews 12:9-10, NIV)

God’s plan for you and me is that we become like Him.  This state is called “holiness,” and it was what God had in mind when He created us “in His image and after His likeness.” (Genesis 1:26a)  Through the heritage of sin, we fall short of our original destiny.

God is at work in us (always) through our circumstances (all of them) for our good.  We aid the process through obedience to God.  We hinder God’s work in us when we delay, debate, or detour.

How do we know when to get involved — or when to get out?  It begins with our full commitment to do whatever it is that God spirit leads us to do; and full confidence in our heavenly Father’s plan for us.  – Luther

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October 27
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“You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, 11 persecutions, sufferings — what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured.  Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. . .  But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.”   (2 Timothy 3:10-11,14-15, NIV)

In these, Paul’s final words to his protege Timothy, we have the commendation of a holy life to another person walking the same path.

What do we “senior” disciples commend to those coming behind us?  Does our lifestyle, purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, and our personal testimony of the Lord’s deliverance from perils give them courage and hope in their time of testing?

A benefit of our pain and suffering is our testimony of God’s faithfulness through all of it.  When those who know us best look at our life, do they see a faithful God and an unyielding hope; or is it something less?   – Luther

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May 23
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“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”  (Colossians 3:12, NIV)

In the tug and pull of daily living, we are apt to forget how God feels about His children; but Paul offers to us this reminder: We are “holy and dearly loved.”

To be holy is to be like our heavenly Father, because He is holy — which is to say, “separate,” or “uncommon.”  Separate, because we follow only our God.  Uncommon, because the world doesn’t see many who live as we live: “[Clothed] with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”

To accept that we are “dearly loved” is the fire of inspiration; it is the freedom to go beyond ourselves; it is the frame that informs and circumscribes all of our choices.

It is a rare and wonderful state to be holy and dearly loved by God; and that is us.  Today.  Live it!  – Luther

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