Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord.
Yesterday, we focused on the first part of this verse. We learned that living in peace with everyone is not just a suggestion. It’s a commandment and something that we absolutely must do if we’re going to share our faith with a dying world. Today, I want to focus on the second half of the verse.
Holiness.
What is holiness? You could ask a million different people and probably get a million different answers. Today, I believe that the answer we’re looking for is found in the New Testament book of 1st Peter:
1 Peter 1:13-16 (NLT)
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 now 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.”
This passage of scripture tells us a few things about holiness:
- Holy people think clearly.
- Holy people exercise self-control.
- Holy people live for the eternal and not the temporary.
- Holy people are obedient to God.
- Holy people do not live to satisfy their own desires.
- Holy people “know better.”
Over the next few days, we will go a little more in-depth so today I want you to just pray that God will begin to show you the parts of your life that are not holy. The parts of your life that are unacceptable. If you ask Him earnestly, it may be painful but this pain is necessary if you are to grow and mature in your faith.
Besides, He only disciplines us because He loves us.
