"A Holy People"

We live in a world today that constantly emphasizes self-gratification, pleasing the desires of the flesh, and doing the things that makes a person happy. However, the verse of the day tells us that "you (those who believe in Jesus Christ as their Savior) are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and a people belonging to God." A people who are chosen to be like the One who created us in His image and after his likeness. A people who were once alienated from God, but now reconciled by the blood shed on the cross. And a people who had not received mercy, but now have received mercy because of the redemption that came by Jesus Christ! In other words, knowing what Jesus did for the sake of the whole world two thousand years ago.., to reconcile us back to God, to demonstrate a life of holiness, to nail our sin on the cross, to defeat the power of death, to empower the body of Christ that they can do even greater things than he did, and to send us the Holy Spirit to guide us.., it becomes incumbent on the body of Christ to offer their bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God according to Paul in Romans 12:1.

Don't allow the world to tell you that you can't live like Jesus. Don't allow the world to tell you that it's too hard to live a sinless life after you received Christ. Don't allow the world to tell you that the Bible has too many rules. And don't allow Satan to deceive you with lie after lie that you can't achieve the holiness of God! The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 5:21 that "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." It's only in Christ that we can be holy as our Father in heaven is holy! Nevertheless, achieving the righteousness of God won't automatically come to a believer unless they model after the life of Christ.

Here are a few points for the body of Christ to consider when it comes to achieving the holiness of God:

1). Put the Word of God into practice according to Matthew 7:24 & James 1:22-25. Be not hearers of the Word only, but be doers of the Word! 

2). Deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Jesus according to Luke 9:23. Don't let the flesh rule you, but let the Spirit of God rule the flesh!

3). Obey his commands which are not burdensome, but are only good for you according to 1 John 5:3.

4). Don't conform to the patterns of the world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind according to Romans 12:2.

5). Capture every thought and make them obedient to Christ according to 2 Corinthians 10:5. You have the power in the name of Jesus Christ to control and to make obedient every thought that comes in and out of your mind. Part of loving God with all your mind is to control your thoughts. 

6). Lastly, meditate on the Word of God day and night according to Joshua 1:8. Jesus said in Matthew 4:4 that we are not to live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God. 

Remember, you are a "Holy People," you are a chosen nation, you are a royal priesthood, and you are a people belonging to God created in his image! You are image bearers of the creator God of the universe and the people of God need to recognize that image, walk in that image, and live out their lives according to that holy image, Amen!