When we think of God, what comes rushing into our minds? Is God the first awakening thought when we arise from sleep in the morning? Is He the last thought upon our minds when we go to sleep at night?
If He is, which of His qualities are contained in those thoughts?
Three prevailing qualities come to mind: Holiness, Goodness, and Love.
We will address each of these qualities in this three-part series, beginning with HOLINESS.
HOLINESS
Two verses come to mind on the topic of HOLINESS.
God spoke to Moses and Aaron in Leviticus 11:44 to teach to the Children of Israel:
"I am the Lord your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy."
Peter extrapolated on these words in 1 Peter 1:13-16:
"Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, ...as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, 'Be holy, because I am holy.'"
Holiness speaks of the choice and deciding affirmation of the highest consideration, the quality of life which is the aim of the outworking of sanctification by the Spirit of God to conform us to the image of the Heavenly.
As Peter continues, we must not conform ourselves to the lusts of our former lives. Rather, it is only through a prepared and alert mind, in full sobriety... as an obedient child. On the latter point, it is the child's seemingly innocent and simplistic obedience that is being discussed here... we require such an innocent and simplistic obedience for the ways of God. If God says it in His Word, we must do it – and we must do so with the ultimate goal of holiness always in mind:
To be holy as God is holy.
Teaching Series:
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