Do you desire to be holy?

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living

But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”
(1 Peter 1:15-16 (NIV))

When you were growing up, was there someone whom you wanted to be just like?

We all have people that are role models for us at various times in our lives. As we grow and mature, some of these people lose that place while others step in to fill the void. Even so, there is something about each of these individuals that fill a need, that fill a hole in our lives at a certain time. Some of us looked up to one or both of our parents. Some looked to a certain grandparent as the role model. As we matured and our interests took on their own personality, we soon began to look upon individuals who had made a name for themselves in the areas that held our interest. All along the way, we saw something in each of these individuals that we recognized as unique and worthy of emulating.

What characteristics caught your attention?

For some, it is such traits as love and kindness. For others, it is a steadfast focus on the goal. For some, it is the willingness to do whatever it takes to succeed in the area of expertise.

When I read today’s passage, something made me realize that we have been seeking to emulate the wrong role models most of the time. Think back on those whom you desired to be like. Did they focus on Jesus? Did they strive to be holy and to bear fruit that reflects that holiness?

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
(Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV))

I know that we have a tendency to reference these traits quite often, but do we truly stop to reflect on the source? If you notice that Spirit is capitalize. This references the Holy Spirit aspect of God. These are traits that we should recognize as holy. These are traits that we should desire to emulate. We have been given instructions on how to be holy!

Do you desire to be holy?

Copyright 1998 – 2018 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
http://www.dailylivingministries.org
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We need to return . . . to God!

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ^©

Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name;
worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness.
(Psalms 29:2 (NIV))

In today’s society, too many people attribute things to God that just aren’t true. These include a false understanding of God’s glory, splendor and holiness.

Does God love us unconditionally?

Does God accept sin?

How many ways are there to God?

Does God accept our definition of Him?

Does God accept our attempts at working our way to Him?

I could go on and on, but I believe that you can understand when I say that we ascribe attributes to God that just are not true. We, as a society do this because we no longer find it appropriate to study God’s Word. As a result, we honestly don’t know any different. We don’t find it appropriate to talk about God in public. We have turned the Creator of all things into a subject that we feel is unfit for public display and consumption. We don’t find it appropriate to allow God in schools, and as a result, we wonder why our society is full of people who have no moral basis.

We need to return to giving God the glory. We need to return to worshipping God. We need to return to the realization that God is holy.

In other words, we need to return to God!

We are only a few days away from when we celebrate God reaching out to His creation to offer us salvation, to offer us a way out of our sin. Now is an excellent time for us to show the world that we accept that offer and that the offer is available to anyone.

God, in all of His splendor, sent His Son, Jesus, to bring us back to Him. Through Jesus, God has ascribed to us the righteousness that we seem to want to deny to Him.

It is time to return to a full understanding of God and not the watered down person that the world claims that He is!

Copyright 1998 – 2014 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
http://www.dailylivingministries.org
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