Happiness And Holiness
13Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. 14As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy."
17Since you call on a Father who judges each man's work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear. 18For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, 19but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 20He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. 21Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.
Reflection of Bee:
Sometimes we can feel tired trying to live up to what the Bible teaches us. We feel a sense of hopelessness that we can't be holy as He is holy. We are are to be "self-controlled" rather than to be controlled by our evil desires (v13, 14).
One way to holiness is to remember that we are bought with the price of Jesus' blood (v19). With that thought in mind, we would want to do the things that please Him.
Dear Lord,
Teach me to be holy day by day. Keep me pure and help me thing of what You have done for me always.
In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Reflection of Tommy:
Our society today laughs and cringes over the word holiness or being holy. Being holy means to be totally devoted or dedicated to God, set aside for God’s special use and set apart from sin and its influence. As believer, we are called to be holy because He is holy (v16).
We can’t be holy on our own but through the Holy Spirit in us that helps us to obey and give us the power to overcome sin. When we make all our focus and priorities to be His, we will be holy with His qualities in our lives.
Dear Father, thank You for teaching me to be holy in everything I do. Teach me not to compromise this because of the pressure to blend in with the crowd. I pray that I will always be ready to allow the Holy Spirit to guide and lead me in all my ways. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.
