THE CHALLENGE OF HOLINESS!

 

Monday, August 31, 2026

 

THE CHALLENGE OF HOLINESS!

 

Ex 15:11

11 Who is like unto thee, O Lord, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?

 

1 Peter 1:15-16

15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;

16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

 

          The word “Holiness” is found 43 times in the Authorized Version. It means “sacred.” In First Peter the word “Holy” is hagios which means “an awful thing, sacred, physically pure, morally blameless, sanctified.”

 

          Holiness is quite a challenge. Isaiah saw himself as “a man of unclean lips dwelling among a people of unclean lips.” Then an angel touched his lips with a coal from off the altar. (Isaiah 6) I understand holiness as a gift and not a product and yet we are commanded to be holy.

 

          Being holy requires a conscious recognition of and discrimination between right and wrong. Those lines are horribly blurred in our culture today, but we are required to make right choices. We see moral absolutes in few places outside of Scripture.  “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.” (Psalm 119:9)

 

1 Thess 3:12-13

12 And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:

13 To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.

 

Dear Lord, the pressure of sin and the longing for purity battle within us daily. Help us to be holy! AMEN

 

NUMBERING OUR DAYS!

 

Sunday, August 30, 2026

A timely classic

 

NUMBERING OUR DAYS!

 

Ps 90:10 & 12

10 The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.

12 So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.

 

          The older we get the more we understand that life is brief and moves very quickly along. Seventy years seems such a very long time when we are children and that same seventy years seems like such a short span when we are nearing the end of it. So much has been done and placed into the treasure of memories and so much has been left undone that we have a store of regret.

 

          Someone asked George Bernard Shaw this question: “If you could live your life over and be anyone you wanted to be – who would you choose to be?” The answer came quickly: “I would choose to be the man George Bernard Shaw could have been – but never was.”

 

          Wisdom accompanies the numbering of our days. Projects must be prioritized according to importance. We must resist those things that claim urgency and replace them with those things that are truly important because we know there is not time to accomplish both! We assign urgency to the truly important things.

 

          As youngsters, “strength” was taken for granted. We were young and we could do. Now our strength requires effort and sorrow. The Old Testament word for “sorrow” means “to pant with effort.” We wish we hadn’t wasted our strength on unimportant things.

 

          Finally, there is good news! At the very end or our days “we fly away!” The phrase “and we fly away” is translated from only one small Hebrew word. The word “‘uwph” even means “to cover with wings; to shine forth.” Ah, that will be the joyful end when we take flight and shine forth!

 

Dear Lord, help me to wisely apply my heart and my strength to the truly important things today. Amen

 

JESUS PRAYS FOR US!

 

Saturday, August 29, 2026

 

JESUS PRAYS FOR US!

 

Mark 1:35

35 And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he [Jesus] went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.

 

Luke 22:31-32

31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:

32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

 

Matt 26:36

36 Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder.

 

          Jesus prayed – a lot! He prayed early in the morning before light and before people. Don’t you wonder what Jesus was praying for?

 

          Jesus prayed – specifically! He prayed for Simon Peter regarding Peter’s test of faith. We all know that Peter denied the Lord three times while warming his hands at the enemy’s fire. We also know that he reaffirmed his devotion three times before the breakfast fire after the Lord’s resurrection. Jesus prayed specifically for Peter and that prayer was answered.

 

          Jesus prayed – generally! In John chapter 17 Jesus prayed for you and for me. He prayed in general terms because He prayed for all those who WOULD believe. So He prayed for me.

 

          Jesus is still praying! He sits at the Father’s right hand – ever living to intercede for us. Whatever troubles you today is already being seriously considered in heaven.

 

Thank you, Lord, for praying for me. AMEN