Be Holy
Café Menu for Friday, June 4, 2014
Today’s Special is: Running the Race
Carefully prepared just for you by your friend, Carolyn Dale Newell
Main Ingredient:
As obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, asin 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
Entrée:
As God’s children, we are commanded to be holy. We can never reach perfection in this life, but if we strive for holiness, we will bring glory to God. Failure to live an obedient life will tarnish God’s Name and it is a horrible testimony to the unsaved. You will also forfeit many blessings from God.
Christians are like athletes. Have you ever heard an athlete describe the strenuous hours that they spend training? God’s children have their own training field. It is called the Bible. We need to spend time in prayer and Bible study. That is when God will convict us about things that should not be in our lives.
Athletes never reach perfection either, but they constantly aim for it.
Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us
Hebrews 12:1 NKJV
You do not see runners wearing blue jeans, jackets and boots. All that weight would slow them down. The same is true for Christians. Sin weighs us down.
We love God and we want to please Him; we do not want to bring shame to His Name. Do you remember when you were a child and you did things to please your parents? It is the same with God’s children. We want to live holy. We want to hear,
Well done, good and faithful servant
Matthew 25:21 NKJV
We should also have a healthy fear about the consequences of sin.
When we do fail, and we will, remember that God is faithful to forgive us. Now, as obedient children, let’s go run this race and glorify our Father whom we love!
Take Out:
My only hope with this devotion is that it will encourage you to strive for holiness. Each one of us has room for improvement. We will not be perfect until we reach heaven, but look where God has brought us from. A Christian’s life will grow holier with each passing year, month and week. Our hatred for sin will increase and our obedience will increase along with it. Set aside an amount of time that works with your schedule to spend time in your Bible and prayer. Remember God’s love is unconditional and He knows our hearts, even when we fail.
Dessert:
Dear Father, I love You. I want to please You. Please reveal all my sin to me. Forgive me and help me to turn away from sin. I want to live a life pleasing to You, but apart from Your power I cannot do it on my own. Please help me to live an obedient life. Thank You for what You have done and what You will do in my life. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
© 2014 by Carolyn Dale Newell. All rights reserved.
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Originally published Friday, 04 July 2014.
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