Good morning,
Holiness. What is it? Today we will find out.
Then the challenge will be to live holy lives for Christ.
Holiness
(John Angell James, “The True Christian” 1846)
“You ought to live holy and godly lives.” 2 Peter 3:11
Holiness is a very comprehensive word, and expresses a state of mind and conduct that includes many things.
Holiness is the work of the Spirit in our sanctification.
Holiness is the fruit of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Holiness is the operation of the new nature, which we receive in regeneration.
Holiness may be viewed in various aspects, according to the different objects to which it relates.
Toward God, holiness is . . .
supreme love;
delight in His moral character;
submission to His will;
obedience to His commands;
zeal for His cause;
seeking of His glory.
Toward Christ, holiness is . . .
a conformity to His example,
imbibing His spirit.
Toward man, holiness is . . .
charity,
integrity,
truth,
mercy.
Toward sin, holiness is a hatred of all iniquity, a tender conscience easily wounded by little sins, and scrupulously avoiding them; together with a laborious, painful, self-denying, mortification of all the known corruptions of our heart.
Toward self, holiness is . . .
the control of our fleshly appetites;
the eradication of our pride;
the mortification of our selfishness.
Toward divine things in general, holiness is . . .
spirituality of mind,
the habitual current of godly thought,
godly affections flowing through the soul.
And, toward the objects of the unseen world, holiness is heavenly-mindedness, a turning away from things seen and temporal, to things unseen and eternal.
Oh, what a word is holiness!
How much does it comprehend!
How little is it understood, and how much less is it practiced!
~ ~ ~ ~
Tomorrow we start our Daily Devotions on Hanukkah. We will begin with the history and then have one for each of the eight days.
If you believe Hanukkah is not for believers in Christ, you are wrong. Jesus celebrated Hanukkah, as did all his followers.
You will be amazed what we will learn from a Jewish holiday.
Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com
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