Flourishing in Peace with Holiness

“Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.” (Hebrews 12:14 NKJV)

    We need to make every effort to live in peace and to be peaceable (Romans 12:18), but it should never come at the expense of our holiness; without holiness we will not see the Lord.

    Holiness means to be set apart, sacred. It means that we speak/behave less like the world and speak/behave more like the Lord: in love (1 Corinthians 13:1-13, 1 John 4:7-11, 17), in purity (1 John 3:1-3), and in holiness (1 Peter 1:15-16)  

• We need to be kind without becoming soft toward sin.
• We need to be loving without disregarding or watering down God’s truth.
• We need to be just without lacking in mercy and compassion.

    Jesus exemplified all these qualities for us. He maintained His holiness while teaching and admonishing people. He loved people so much that He couldn’t bear to let them remain unknowledgeable about God and His goodness. He pointed people toward the One source from which they could obtain true peace. He, with love, corrected them, guided them, and taught them.

    “Speaking the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:14-15) will go a long way in helping others know God and it will help us to grow up in Jesus! There are so many man made doctrines, and “the trickery of men” is all around us, leading unknowledgeable people astray – they seek peace but cannot find it in ever-changing/constantly-adapting doctrines – but with God there is TRUE PEACE, because with God we find the Truth that has never and will never change (1 Peter 1:22-25), allowing us to know without doubt how to be holy and acceptable Him and how to remain holy and acceptable to Him (read and consider Romans 12:1-2)!

    Think on these things and consider these verses today:

“Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.” (James 5:19-20 NKJV)

“Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:1-2 NKJV)

“But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And on some have compassion, making a distinction; but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.” (Jude 20-23 NKJV)

Side note: God is serious when it comes to warning the wicked and erring – He has always “rose early” to tell His children the truth and give warning (Jeremiah 7:13, 25, 25:4), sending His prophets to inform even the pagan nations to repent before it is too late (see the book of Jonah). Please read and consider Ezekiel 3:18-21 to understand just how important it is to God that people are warned away from their wickedness and sin.

    If we choose “peace” with man by remaining silent about the Truth and not warning them, we will not be holy as God is holy, we will not be at peace with Him, and our hopes of seeing the Lord will be diminished, but if we choose to be in peace with Him, we will learn to speak the truth in love, proclaim the true peace that is available to all (the gospel message, Ephesians 6:15), we will maintain our holiness, and our hopes to see Him will flourish!  

    We know the glories of God, His goodness, and His grace! Let’s never compromise our love and appreciation for Him by calling wrong, right (or ‘okay’), for the sake of “peace.” God calls us to be holy – that is top priority. Peace comes through speaking the truth in love.

    Are you ready to do that? Are you willing to stand against the wiles of the devil and speak God’s truth without compromise?

You can do it! So can I!!

Flourishing in Holiness – Every Part Must Do Its Share

    As we conclude our study on ‘Flourishing in Holiness’ I would like you to consider a few more verses that speak of holiness. As you read these verses I would like you to keep in mind Ephesians 4:14-16:

 

“…that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but speaking the truth in love , may grow up in all things into Him who is the head – Christ – from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.” (NKJV)  

 

    Each of us need to be flourishing in holiness. If each one does their part, then we can better help each other grow stronger and we can better help establish new Christians in the faith.

 

“”Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not 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 6:17- 7:1 NKJV)

 

    It is worth our every effort to keep our hearts and minds focused on wholly trusting and properly reverencing God (Hebrews 12:28-29) so that we use our time wisely (Ephesians 5:15-17) and remove what is filth and put on only what is holy. Are you actively identifying and removing filth in your heart and mind and replacing it with holiness?  

 

“Do not let your adornment be merely outward – arranging of the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel – rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. For in this manner, in former times, holy women who trusted in God, also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands…” (1 Peter 3:3-5 NKJV)

 

    As women pursuing holiness, our focus is on God and joying in His wisdom, proving to the world God’s good and acceptable and perfect will (Romans 12:1-2). We develop gentle and quiet spirits, we respect our husbands and do not belittle them; we submit to them as the leader and head of the home. Are you putting worldly purchases on display or are you displaying God’s word?  If you are married, are you respecting your husband and submitting to him as head?

 

“God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness. Therefore he who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who has also given us His Holy Spirit.” (1 Thessalonians 4:7-8 NKJV)

 

    God loved us so much that He sent His Son to live (giving us an example in how we should walk, 1 Peter 2:20-24, 1 John 2:3-6) and to die for us, to free us from the bondage on sin – how can we choose to continue in uncleanness when such a price was paid for our redemption? Are you being an example of uncleanness or holiness?

 

“Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness.” (Hebrews 12:9-10 NKJV, see also Hebrews 3:1)

 

    God wants us to succeed. He has provided all that we need to do just that! He wants us to be corrected and understand the folly of bad habits and our dalliances with sin. God wants us to be partakers of His holiness – are we letting Him correct us?  

 

“Greet one another with a holy kiss” (Romans 16:16, 1 Corinthians 16:20, 2 Corinthians 13:12, 1 Thessalonians 5:26)

 

    God gave us one another and we are to greet one another in sincerity of heart and purity of mind. We should always be looking out for each other’s best interests – helping each other stay the course and draw closer to God (James 4:7-8). Are you doing your part? Are you paying attention to your brethren so that you can be guide them back if you see they are ‘growing cold’ (Matthew 24:12-13, Galatians 6:1-2), are you listening and observing so you can comfort them in their troubles (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)? Are you making an effort to love your brethren with a pure and sincere heart so that you can benefit them in their walk?

 

“If anyone defile the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are… …having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.” (1 Corinthians 3:17 and Ephesians 2:20-22 NKJV)

 

    We need to respect not only our own bodies, but the body of Christ, the church (Ephesians 1:22-23), and do all that is necessary to keep ourselves holy, and do our part for the whole (Ephesians 4:16) – are you doing your part?

 

“…just as he chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love…” (Ephesians 1:4 NKJV, see also 1 Peter 2:9)

 

    God knew that there would be people who would seek Him and He provided His Son (and His sacrifice) to redeem them from the captivity of sin, so they could learn more of Him through His word, draw near to Him in obedience, and access Him through prayer for all that they needed by way of grace, mercy, comfort, and strength; so that they would be holy and without blame before Him in love. Are you seeking God as you should? Are you learning, drawing nearer, and accessing Him through prayer each day?

 

“And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you, so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.” (1 Thessalonians 3:12-13 NKJV)

 

    We don’t need to be fearful of Jesus’ return if we are putting daily effort into pursuing what is holy (1 John 2:28-29). Are you allowing God to make you increase and abound in love for your brethren and all others so that He can establish your heart blameless (without fault) in holiness?

 

    God calls us to be holy; He commands us to be holy. He has provided all we need! Are you using all that God has provided to pursue holiness so that you can flourish in it? Are you becoming more like the Lord and less like the world?  By your example, are you helping your brethren to pursue holiness or half-heartedness? Learn to love God enough to want to be a partaker of his holiness, respect Him enough to cleanse yourself from sin’s filth, and joy in His promises enough to stay the course in becoming holy!  Are you ready to do your part?

 

You can do it! So can I!! 

Flourishing in Holiness – God Commands It

    Last week we looked at Bible verses that tell us that God is holy and that He called us with a holy calling (through the gospel, 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14) to be holy. When we, who are now Christians, heard God’s call (through Bible reading/study), obeyed the gospel message, and were baptized for the remission of our sins (Mark 16:15-16), God forgave us of all our past offences, washed them away, and gave us a new beginning – if that is not reason enough to do all that is necessary to become holy and set apart from the world, then I would like you to consider the commands found within God’s word:

 

“I beseech you therefore brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” (Romans 12:1-2 NKJV)

 

    Anyone digging in their heels about having to give up some unwholesome ‘guilty pleasure,’ you may be thinking, “That’s Paul’s plea; it’s not really a command;” please consider that Jesus’s very commission to Paul was “to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified (note: that means set apart) by faith in Me” (Acts 26:18). Paul’s words were from God (2 Peter 3:15-16, 2 Corinthians 1:12, 2:17), so that all who read them would know the Truth and have instruction in how to live properly before God.

 

“”Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not 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 6:17- 7:1 NKJV)

 

“…the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior (“have behavior becoming holiness,” KJV); not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things…” (Titus 2:3 NKJV)

 

    All of God’s commands and instructions, either direct or through inspired men (2 Peter 1:16-21), have always been for our good (Deuteronomy 6:24-25) so that we might be partakers of His holiness (see Hebrews 12:3-11). God tells us to no longer be slaves of sin – Jesus’ sacrifice freed us from that bondage – and just as God raised Jesus from the dead, He raised us from the deadness of sin (Ephesians 2:1-8) to walk in newness of life (Romans 6:3-4). We now walk in this new life as willing servants, as “slaves of righteousness” (Romans 6:15-18), and the benefits arising from righteousness are holiness (or sanctification) in this life, and in the end, everlasting life (Romans 6:22).

 

    Think on these verses today. Take the time today and each day through this week, if the Lord wills, to read and reread Romans 6. We are to be holy – be less like the world as we become more like the Lord – it is a command, and we are without excuse. It is for our good and God has provided all that is needed for us to overcome and succeed in this pursuit; it is now up to us to flourish in our servitude to righteousness so that we may be holy in all our conduct!

 

    Are you ready?

 

You can do it! So can I!!  

Flourishing in Holiness – Why is it Necessary?

“…as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct…” (1 Peter 1:15 NKJV)

    Why is holiness necessary? Because God who called us is holy; He is pure and set apart from sin and evil (it does not, cannot, dwell with Him, Psalm 5:5) making Him not only the source, but also the absolute standard for purity and holiness.

    God, who is holy, called us. How?  By the gospel (2 Thessalonians 2:13-14). You heard the gospel – the ‘good news’ of Jesus – you believed it (Romans 10:17), and you obeyed it (Mark 16:15-16, Acts 2:37-38, 8:30-39). God called to you through His word and you answered His call through faith and obedience to His commands.

    God called us with a holy calling (2 Timothy 1:8-9) – not because we were worthy – but because He is holy and He loved us (1 John 4:8-10), and loves us still! God does not want any to perish, He wants all to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9); He wants all to be saved and come to the truth (1 Timothy 2:1-4).

“…as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but 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 1:14-16 NKJV) 

    God called us in holiness to be holy, not unclean (1 Thessalonians 4:7, please read verses 1-8 also). God sent His only begotten Son to live and to die, a sacrificial Lamb, “that He might redeem us from every lawless deed” (Titus 2:11-14). How can we, who have heard and obeyed the gospel and have been baptized for the remission of our sins – released from the very bondage of sin that held us captive – turn back to sinful practices?     

“But you have not so learned Christ, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as truth is in Jesus; that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which is created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.” (Ephesians 4:20-24 NKJV) 

    We must regard God as holy (Leviticus 10:3) and understand that to be in His presence we too must be striving – doing all that is necessary – to be holy (Hebrews 12:14); we need to diligent in removing our old habits and determined to replace them with the new holy habits He has told us to busy ourselves with (ex: 2 Timothy 2:22, Ephesians 2:10, Colossians 3, Titus 3:8, 14, etc.).

    God is holy. He has called us with a holy calling to be holy, sacred, and set apart/different from the world (Romans 12:2) – His word provides us with all we need to know to flourish in holiness. Take time this week to read the book of Leviticus, taking note of the numerous times ‘holy’ is mentioned; let it open your eyes to the fact that we must be holy.

    Let us learn to reverence and hallow God properly so we can truly appreciate the clean slate, the “new man,” He has granted us, created in true righteousness and holiness (Ephesians 4:24) – He gave us a head start, now we need to finish the race (Hebrews 12:1-2)! 

    Are you running toward the goal?

You can do it! So can I!!

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!!

Sing and Make Melody in Your Heart

    It's time for a new series of study: "Sing and Make Melody In Your Heart" 

    I've been thinking of this for a little while now and thought, as we near Spring, it would be a great time to run with it! 

    This week I chose a hymn of praise that happens to be one of my earliest remembered favourites: "Holy, Holy, Holy" written by Reginald Heber in 1826. This hymn is based on the scene and song mentioned in the fourth chapter of the book of Revelation, this song is one of beautiful praise to the "LORD God Almighty."

Holy, holy, holy! LORD God Almighty!

Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee;

Holy, holy, holy! Merciful and mighty!

God over all and blest eternally.

Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore Thee,

Casting downs their golden crowns around the glassy sea;

Cherubim and seraphim falling down before Thee,

Who wert and art, and ever more shalt be.

Holy, holy, holy! Though the darkness hide Thee,

Though the eye of sinful men Thy glory may not see;

Only Thou art holy, there is none beside Thee,

Perfect in pow'r, in love, and purity.

Holy, holy, holy! LORD God Almighty!

All Thy works shall praise Thy name, in earth, and sky, and sea;

Holy, holy, holy! Merciful and mighty!

God over all and blest eternally.

(As found in the hymnal, "Psalms, Hymns, And Spiritual 

Songs," Copyright 2012, Sumphonia Productioons, LLC)

    In Revelation 4:8 the four living creatures "do not rest day or night, saying, "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!" and when the four living creatures give "glory and honour and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever" the twenty-four elders "fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever" they cast their crowns before the throne saying, "You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power; for You created all things and by Your will they exist and were created."

    Read the whole of Revelation chapter 4. Take the time to meditate on the beauty described within that scene of praise and honour and glory! Take note of the jewel-like description of the One who sits on the throne. Take note of the rainbow around the throne, "like an emerald." The "sea of glass, like crystal" that spreads out before the throne of God. It's breath-taking!!

    Pause for a moment and think on Revelation 4. Picture it in your mind. Isn't it wonderful? Now, sing this hymn of praise ~ I've attached a link, if you are in need of the tune!

    If the Lord wills, bring the scene in Revelation 4 to your mind each day this week. Let the tune of this melody flow through your heart as you consider the worthiness of God to receive glory and honour and praise-filled thanksgiving!! Magnify Him in your heart as tune your lips to sing His praise!

Sing and make melody in your heart!

You can do it! So can I!!

 

Fix It So You Can Flourish: Transformed By Renewing Your Mind

    Our passage to read and think on throughout this week, as the Lord wills, is Romans 12:1-2:

"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." (NKJV)

    Following in Jesus' footsteps (1 Peter 2:21, 1 John 2:6) we learn to humbly submit to God, sacrifice our wants and desires (Matthew 16:24), and obey His instructions and commands so that we can be holy as He is holy (1 Peter 1:13-16) and be pure just as He is pure (1 John 3:3). We will determine to make good choices in our attitudes, our words, and our actions so that others will know that we belong to God!

    When I was younger my Dad explained Romans 12:2 like this: Pour Jello into a mould, after it sets, you turn it out and you have a lump of Jello that looks exactly like the mould. The Jello conformed to the mould it was in! We conform to the world when we let it shape us, which will leave us looking just like the world!

    God wants us to be transformed (undergo a change in character). How do we do this? "...by the renewing of your mind." Fill up your heart and mind with God's word motivates us to try harder each day to make good choices in our speech, our attitudes, our actions. Read and think on Ephesians 4:17-32 as it echoes these thoughts. 

    If we put in the self-sacrificing effort, God will provide the transforming renewal!

    Determining to do things God's way will take faith and trust on our part, but it's well-worth our every effort because we will soon prove to ourselves - and to others - that His will is "good and acceptable and perfect."

    Only when we transform ourselves by doing what God has told us to do can shine as a light in the world (Matthew 5:14-16). Only when we are different from the world can we show the world that there is a different way!

    Let's be the living sacrifices that God wants us to be, so that we can prove that His way is the best way!

From wherever you are right now - BEGIN!

Those Who Call on The Lord Out of a Pure Heart

“Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace 
WITH THOSE WHO CALL ON THE LORD OUT OF A PURE HEART.” 
(2 Timothy 2:22 NKJV)

    We have spent time this year in understanding what righteousness, faith, love, and peace look like and we learned why it is so important to obey this command and continually pursue these so we can live righteously, faithfully, in love, and at peace.

    We are to pursue these things with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

    We have recently learned that ‘calling on the Lord’ is appealing to God for help, for guidance, for worship; fully acknowledging Him as supreme in authority, to the point that we desire to be named after Him/His Son --> “Christian” (Acts 11:26). We can rightfully wear the name Christian when we are IN CHRIST, part of His body, the church (Ephesians 5:23, Colossians 1:18).

IMPORTANT SIDE NOTE: How do we get INTO Christ? We must not only believe in Jesus, we must not only repent of our sins, we must not only confess our faith, we must also be baptized for the remission of our sins. Many churches today do not teach the necessity of baptism, teaching instead that it is merely a sign to show others that we’ve already been saved. The problem with that teaching is that the Bible says otherwise. Please read 1 Peter 3:18- 21 – BAPTISM saves us! Sounds rather necessary, doesn’t it? This act, if done in faith, is the point that we obey God fully, and it is the point when God washes our sins away. Why else would Ananias, who was directly instructed by Jesus to inform Saul of Tarsus of what he must do, instruct Saul to “arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16)? Faith alone won’t save us. Repentance alone won’t save us. Confession alone won’t save us. Even baptism alone won’t save us. But when put together, in full obedience to the only God of this universe, we can be saved because His Son, Jesus Christ, died for our sins, allowing us to be forgiven by God’s grace. That’s what the message of salvation in Jesus Christ sounds like as found in the Bible.  That is how you are granted the name “Christian,” that is how you become part of the body of Christ (in Christ), the church (Romans 6:1-14, Galatians 3:26-29, Colossians 2:11-14)!

“THOSE WHO CALL ON THE LORD OUT OF PURE HEART”

    We have learned that having a pure heart means to have a heart that is innocent, sanctified, and set apart to God, a heart that is morally pure. So, I draw the conclusion, that those who seek God, who make appeal to Him, and have hearts that are morally pure and innocent (whose sins have been “washed” away) are the very same who make up His church. We are to flee youthful lusts and pursue after righteousness, faith, love, peace with the church belonging to God’s very Son, the church He established in Acts 2! We are to help one another flee sin and pursue God and all His ways!

Consider now, this passage: 

“Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love for the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed, but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever.” (1 Peter 1:22-23 NKJV)

    We purify our souls in obeying the truth (see note above), and we are to love one another sincerely and fervently with a pure heart. When we love one another sincerely and fervently, we will be willing to encourage and correct in order to benefit the other (Ephesians 4:19, James 5:19-20). When this is done with a pure heart, godly wisdom should be what guides our words (James 1:5, 3:13-18, Ephesians 4:12-16), because we appeal to the God of heaven, the only source for true wisdom! And having been born again (please read John 3:1-7, baptism IS necessary!) of incorruptible seed – see 1 John 3:1-3 – through the word of God, we purify ourselves, keeping ourselves pure through continued learning, obedience, and appeal to God through prayer and thanksgiving!

    Continue to flee youthful lusts as you grow up in Christ (Ephesians 4:15-16). Continue to pursue righteousness (living right before God, humbly obeying all His commands), faith (without it, it is impossible to please Him, Hebrews 11:6), love (selflessly seeking the higher good for others, to be a benefit to others), and peace (with God and with man). Allow members of the church to help you and look for ways to help them too (Galatians 6:9-10). We are all in this together!! Keep trying! Don’t give up!!

    God provides all you need to succeed!! Do it His way – it is always worth every effort!! What you’ll get in return is unfathomable – blessings upon blessings!! Continue to pursue God today!!

You can do it! So can I!!   

 

Peace and Holiness

“Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, 

without which no one will see the Lord.” 

(Hebrews 12:14 NKJV)

    We need to make every effort to live in peace and to be peaceable (Romans 12:18), BUT it should never come at the expense of our holiness; without holiness we will not see God.

• We need to be kind without becoming soft toward sin.
• We need to be loving without disregarding or watering down God’s truth.
• We need to be just without lacking compassion.

    Jesus exemplified all these qualities for us. He maintained His holiness while teaching and admonishing people. He loved people so much that He couldn’t bear to let them remain unknowledgeable about God and His goodness. He pointed people toward the One source from which they could obtain true peace. He, with love, corrected them, guided them, and taught them.

    “Speaking the truth in love” will go a long way in helping others know God and it will help us to grow up in Jesus (Ephesians 4:15)! There are so many manmade doctrines and “trickeries of men”, leading unknowledgeable people astray – they seek peace but cannot find it in ever changing/adapting doctrines – but with God there is TRUE PEACE, a constant source of knowledge that has never and will never change, and a love that grows greater the more we seek Him!

    Please take time this week to read and consider these verses: Ezekiel 3:18-21, James 5:19-20, and Galatians 6:1-2

    And now let's include the verse that follows in Hebrews 12:

"Pursue peace with all people, and holiness,
without which no one will see the Lord:
looking carefully lest anyone fall short
of the grace of God, lest any root of
bitterness springing up cause trouble,
and by this many become defiled."
(Hebrews 12:14-15 NKJV)

    “Defiled” is the opposite of “holy.” We don’t want “defiled” to describe us or others. Defiled would mean that one has fallen short of God’s grace, it was not sought for and therefore not obtained. When this happens, “roots of bitterness” can spring up and cause serious trouble.

What is a “root of bitterness”?  This term is mentioned in Deuteronomy 29:18-19, when God commanded the Israelites to get rid of their foreign idols. I think it is worthwhile to put those verses in front of us.

“ …and you saw their abominations and their idols which were among them—wood and stone and silver and gold); so that there may not be among you man or woman or family or tribe, whose heart turns away today from the Lord our God, to go and serve the gods of these nations, and that there may not be among you a root bearing bitterness or wormwood; and so it may not happen, when he hears the words of this curse, that he blesses himself in his heart, saying, ‘I shall have peace, even though I follow the dictates of my heart’—as though the drunkard could be included with the sober.” (Deuteronomy 29:17-19 NKJV)

    A root of bitterness can crop up when one becomes resentful of being told what to do, what they have to change about themselves, and/or what they have to give up.

    Have you experienced a root of bitterness yourself? I have! Usually, these roots first test the soil of our hearts when we are young and become resentful of our parents telling us “no” all the time.  And when they aren’t saying no, they’re telling us to “clean your room, take out the garbage, and lose your attitude”! We grow bitter and angry and plot and plan parental avoidance methods, so as to bypass hearing their endless rules.  It makes life miserable for everyone involved.

    When this same resistance transfers to God and His commands, we not only continue to make life harder for ourselves, but we also are endangering our souls. We, like the mistaken Israelites, may say in our heart, ‘I don’t have to give that up, I can still have peace' or 'I don’t need to do EVERYTHING God says; His words are more suggestions for good behaviour than actual rules or guidelines! I’m fine, I can just do what suits me! I’m a good person, God loves me! It’s all good!'

    We cannot follow the dictates of our own heart and claim peace for ourselves. We cannot disregard God and think we will be counted among the righteous.

“”Woe to the rebellious children,” says the LORD, 

“Who take counsel, but not of Me, and 

who devise plans, but not of My Spirit, 

that they may add sin to sin.”” 

(Isaiah 30:1 NKJV) 

    True peace comes only from God. His ways are constant – they do not become obsolete or outdated – they are consistent in their benefit and their wisdom! God tells us that if we want to have a good life, a peaceable life, we need to depart from evil and do good, we need to seek peace and chase after it diligently, tirelessly pursue it (Psalm 34:11-15, 1 Peter 3:10-12)! We must do all that is necessary on our part to always come back to a place of peace with God first, and then live at peace with others around us (Romans 12:18).

    We know the glories of God, His goodness, His grace! Let’s never compromise our love and appreciation for Him by calling wrong, right (or ‘okay’), for the sake of peace. God calls us to be holy – that is top priority. Peace comes through speaking the truth in love.

Are you ready to do that? Are you willing to stand against the wiles of the devil and speak God’s truth without compromise? Are you ready to deny self, take up the cross and follow Jesus in obedience to all God has commanded (Matthew 16:24-26)? These are essential components in our pursuit of peace! God’s ways are a benefit; His commands overflow with wisdom! Turn away from your own notions of what you think is good and let God’s words guide you towards true peace!

You can do it! So can I!!