Called to be holy

Hello everyone,

How are you doing on this day? I hope well and bubbling in the Lord. We thank God for His goodness, His faithfulness, His lovingkindness and tender mercies. How excellent, and how glorious is His holy name, how merciful the grace He has extended toward us. Thank You Father.

Primary Text

“To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy,…” 1 Corinthians 1v2 (NIV)

As children of God, we are called to be holy.  1 Peter 1v13-16 (NLT) tells us “So think clearly and exercise self-control. Look forward to the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world. So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then. But no you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.” Commenting on verses 15&16, the Life Study Bible aptly says “After people commit their lives to Christ, they usually still feel a pull back to their old ways. Peter tells us to be like our heavenly Father – holy in everything we do. Holiness means being totally devoted or dedicated to God, set aside for [H]is special use and set apart from sin and its influence. We’re to be set apart and different, not blending in with the crowd, yet not being different just for the sake of being different. What makes us different are God’s qualities in our lives. Our focus and priorities must be His. All this is in direct contrast to our old ways (1:14). We cannot become holy on our own, but God gives us His Holy Spirit to help us obey and to give us power to overcome sin. Don’t use the excuse that you can’t help slipping into sin. Call on God’s power to free you from sin’s grip.” As 2 Corinthians 7v1 below puts it, because of our fear of God, and in reverence for the Lord, let us work towards holiness. Let us cleanse ourselves from such things that would defile our bodies and spirits. This is wisdom!

Supplementary Text

“Therefore, since these [great] promises are ours, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that contaminates and defiles body and spirit, and bring [our] consecration to completeness in the [reverential] fear of God.” 2 Corinthians 7v1 (AMP)

Prayer

Father, we thank You for Your Word. We praise You for You are holy and have called us to be holy. We ask that You purge our spirits, and souls, and bodies from everything that may be defiling us at this time. Please wash us clean in the blood of Jesus. We pray O God of peace that You will make us holy in every way, and keep our whole spirit and soul and body blameless until our Lord Jesus comes again. This we pray with thanksgiving, knowing You have heard us, and that You will answer us in Jesus name, amen.