May 4 – 1 Peter 1:16

Posted by Jan Ross

"Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy." (1 Peter 1:16)

Holiness . . . commanded more than once in the Word of God:

Leviticus 11:44 says, "For I am the LORD your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy".

Lev 19:2 says "Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be holy: for I the LORD your God am holy."

Lev 20:7 says "Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the LORD your God."

Matt 5:48 says, "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect."

The question is what is holiness? It appears that holiness is not fashioning ourselves according to the former lusts in our ignorance . . . as obedient children. (See Romans 12:2 and Ephesians 2:3.) Holiness is living a life that is set apart from the world's influence and separated from sin while being yoked together with Christ. In essence, holiness is righteousness in action.

Holiness is not based on outward appearance, although your outward appearance will most definitely reflect the Righteous One living within.

Holiness is not a rigid set of do's and don'ts, although one walking in holiness will refrain from all appearance of evil and do all as unto the Lord.

Living a life of holiness is the duty and should be the desire of every Christian. We should strive to be holy in all manner of conversation, in every area of our lives . . . towards all people, in business affairs, and in all circumstances - when we're prosperous or otherwise.

We are to imitate God . . . God is holy. He is perfectly, unchangeably, and eternally holy; and we should desire to be like Him.

The Word of God will lead us and guide us on our path toward holiness. The Word of God is alive and is able to cut away from us all that which is unpleasing in the sight of the Lord. Read it and accept its convicting power; follow it and give God the glory due His name by living a life holy unto the Lord.

Father, my desire to live a life holy and acceptable to You grows day by day . . . "take my heart and form it. Take my mind and transform it; take my will and conform it . . . to You. Holiness is what I long for; Holiness is what I need. Holiness is what You want from me." Help me be pleasing unto You. Lord; help me to be holy even as You are holy…amen.

"That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness." (Ephesians 4:22-24)

This entry was posted on Sunday, May 3, 2009 at Sunday, May 03, 2009 . You can follow any responses to this entry through the comments feed .

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Jan Ross, Author
Today's Devotion

Jan is passionate about the Lord and the Body of Christ as she ministers through the ministry of Heart of God International. In spite of her active involvement in world missions, she eagerly serves in her local church. Jan is an ordained licensed minister, the mother of a large, busy family, and serves as a short-term missionary. She is a published author and partners together with Jeanice McDade to establish fruitful foreign evangelistic ministries.

For personal contact information and to learn more about Jan and, her family and her ministry, please visit her website at janross.org.