Flourish Even More in 2024... in Holiness

    Last month we spent our time together looking at the need to purify ourselves as God is pure – we do this because we hope to see Him one day (1 John 3:1-3), and this month, as the Lord wills, we will study, what I believe to be the sister-attribute that we all need to be flourishing in: holiness, because, like purity, without it we will not see the Lord (Hebrews 12:14).

“…as He who called you is holy, you also 
be holy in all your conduct, because 
it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”” 
(1 Peter 1:15-16 NKJV)

    Pureness and holiness are similar:

• Pure means clean, untainted by impurities/evil, without fault
• Holy means sacred, set apart (to be exclusively the Lord’s), different (than the world) because you’re like the Lord

    Purity has a lot to do with our inner selves – our hearts, souls, thoughts, and intentions – the things we let in and influence us, whereas holiness is what others can see; it is our example, our actions, and behaviours. We will purify ourselves and do all that is needed to keep ourselves pure because we understand that we, as Christians, are now holy and set apart (from the world) for God’s service (Romans 6:19, 12:1-2). We need pure thoughts and motives to be holy in all our conduct (1 Peter 1:15).

    We must first look to God and acknowledge Him as holy (Leviticus 10:3). It is our regard for Him in this matter that will help us to understand the importance of being holy in all our conduct.  We can then look to Jesus, who is also our example in holiness. Described in Hebrews 7:26 as “…holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners…” Jesus died for us so that He could present us “holy, and blameless, and above reproach in [the Father’s] sight” (Colossians 1:22).

“As God has said: ‘I will dwell with them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people.” Therefore “Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do no touch what is unclean, and I will receive you.” “I will be a Father to you, and you shall be my sons and daughters, says the LORD Almighty.” Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” (2 Corinthians 6:16b-7:1 NKJV) 

       God wants us to perfect holiness, He wants us to accomplish it, to see it through to the very end, which is everlasting life (Romans 6:22) – it is there that we will see Him, it is there that we, too, can join in praising Him, “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty”!

    Are you ready to flourish even more in 2024 in holiness?

You can do it! So can I!!