Hope for Holiness
Day 30 • March 5
Hope for Holiness 1 Peter 1:14-15 As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do…
The poor country Pastor was livid when he confronted his wife with the receipt for a $250 dress she had bought. “How could you do this!” he exclaimed. “I don’t know,” she wailed, “I was standing in the store looking at the dress. Then I found myself trying it on. It was like the Devil was whispering to me, ‘Gee, you look great in that dress. You should buy it.’” “Well,” the Pastor persisted, “You know how to deal with him! Just tell him, ‘Get behind me, Satan!’” “I did,” replied his wife, “but then he said ‘It looks great from back here, too.’”
R
As much as I hate to admit it, I can identify with the struggle of the woman in that story. My weakness isn’t shopping, but it seems like there are certain areas in my life where I hear Satan’s voice in front of me and behind me, too. He speaks through my sin nature, and he speaks through the voice of culture. It is no wonder that so many Christians struggle to live a life of holiness that honors God. Still, in today’s passage, that is just what Peter calls us to do. Look again at 1 Peter 1:13-16 – “Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do. For it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.’” What is your reaction when you read those verses? Many people run from passages like this one, because they fear that word – HOLINESS. We know that God is Holy, and we know that His Son, Jesus, lived a perfect, holy life. For us, however, people who struggle with every type of imperfection, the idea of living
a holy life seems almost laughable. Maybe that is because we misunderstand what God wants from us. We all wrestle with sin, and that will continue until we break free from this sin-cursed earth. But if you know Jesus as Savior, then God Almighty lives inside of you! For us, living a holy life means surrendering ever-increasing amounts of control to Him. That starts with a purposeful decision to march to the beat of a different drum. Rather than to live as our culture encourages us to, we choose to follow God’s leading. That’s what Peter means when he tells us to avoid conforming to our former desires. Instead of following our natural inclinations, we follow Christ by imitating His actions and by obeying His Word.
R Notice, also, that Peter tells us that this type of lifestyle begins in the mind. “Prepare your minds for action,” he urges. On Day 16 of this study, we learned that temptation begins in the mind. It is no surprise, then, that Holiness does as well. You prepare your mind by spending time with God. Meditate on His Word; invest in sermons and Bible lessons and devotional times (such as this one). Talk to Him and ask Him to strengthen you and help you to surrender to the leading of the Holy Spirit. When you surrender your heart, and prepare your mind for the day, your hands and feet naturally follow. That is not to say, of course, that we will ever perfect life down here. We are called to “be Holy, because God is Holy,” but we realize that the completion of that process will happen when we are with Him in Paradise. During our time here, though, we should strive to become more like Him in every way. We do that because of the hope that we have for the future. So often, those who seek only pleasure in this life are only expressing their hopelessness. They see nothing beyond this life, so they live for this moment.
Hope for Holiness • Day 30 We see so much more than that! We live with the certain hope that God’s promises will be fulfilled. Don’t forget, one of those promises is that the One who is in us is greater than the one who is in the world. If Jesus lives inside of you, then you have everything you need to demolish strongholds and leave behind your former way of life. Christ is in you! Surrender to Him, because He is your only hope for holiness. •
P.S.– 10 Marks of Holiness Do you think you are a Holy person? More importantly, does God consider you a Holy person? How can you know? Billy Graham suggested that Holiness is a pursuit that we must foster. And he suggested that the following statements should increasingly be true of you if you are growing into a Holy person. (Measure yourself by asking: “Is this true of me?”) 1. A Holy person hates what God hates and loves what God loves. 2. A Holy person has a greater fear of displeasing God than of displeasing the world. 3. A Holy person does not just live a life of faith, but labors to be like our Lord Jesus Christ. 4. A Holy person is slow to talk of “my rights” and is quick to talk about “His Will”. 5. A Holy person crucifies his fallen flesh and seeks to restrain his carnal inclinations.
6. A Holy person says “no” to Satan’s sinister suggestions and “yes” to God’s Spirit. 7. A Holy person observes the Golden Rule, doing for others as he would want them to do for him. 8. A Holy person has a spirit of mercy and benevolence. He is not content with doing no harm—but is intentional in doing good. 9. A Holy person esteems others above himself. He sees more evil in his own heart than in any other in the world. 10. A Holy person is spiritual minded. He sets his affections on things above and holds things on earth with a very loose hand. (Billy Graham concluded): Let me offer a word of advice to all who desire to be Holy: Would you be holy? Then you must begin with Christ. You will do nothing at all and make no progress until you feel your sin and weakness and flee to Him. He is the root and beginning of all Holiness and the way to be Holy is to come to Him by faith and be joined to Him. Do you want to attain Holiness? Then go to Christ. Wait for nothing. Wait for nobody. Linger not. Think not to make yourself ready. Go to Christ and say, “Lord, not only save me from the guilt of sin, but send the Spirit, whom Thou didst promise, and save me from sin’s power. Make me holy. Teach me to do Thy will.”
Write a definition for each of these types of holiness (holy = being set apart/dedicated to): Legal (law based) holiness:__________________________________________________________________________________ Relational holiness:__________________________________________________________________________________________ Which type of holiness does “religion” tend to focus on?______________________________________________________ Which type of holiness does God expect from us?____________________________________________________________ Re-read the passage, based on your last answer and definition, and describe what that practically looks like in your life: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Some people tend to make decisions based on emotions. Why is this dangerous, and how does our study passage above instruct us to short circuit this common human tendency? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Daily Scripture Reading: 1 Peter 2
Hope for Holiness 1 Peter 1:14-15 As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do…
The poor country Pastor was livid when he confronted his wife with the receipt for a $250 dress she had bought. “How could you do this!” he exclaimed. “I don’t know,” she wailed, “I was standing in the store looking at the dress. Then I found myself trying it on. It was like the Devil was whispering to me, ‘Gee, you look great in that dress. You should buy it.’” “Well,” the Pastor persisted, “You know how to deal with him! Just tell him, ‘Get behind me, Satan!’” “I did,” replied his wife, “but then he said ‘It looks great from back here, too.’”
R
As much as I hate to admit it, I can identify with the struggle of the woman in that story. My weakness isn’t shopping, but it seems like there are certain areas in my life where I hear Satan’s voice in front of me and behind me, too. He speaks through my sin nature, and he speaks through the voice of culture. It is no wonder that so many Christians struggle to live a life of holiness that honors God. Still, in today’s passage, that is just what Peter calls us to do. Look again at 1 Peter 1:13-16 – “Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do. For it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.’” What is your reaction when you read those verses? Many people run from passages like this one, because they fear that word – HOLINESS. We know that God is Holy, and we know that His Son, Jesus, lived a perfect, holy life. For us, however, people who struggle with every type of imperfection, the idea of living
a holy life seems almost laughable. Maybe that is because we misunderstand what God wants from us. We all wrestle with sin, and that will continue until we break free from this sin-cursed earth. But if you know Jesus as Savior, then God Almighty lives inside of you! For us, living a holy life means surrendering ever-increasing amounts of control to Him. That starts with a purposeful decision to march to the beat of a different drum. Rather than to live as our culture encourages us to, we choose to follow God’s leading. That’s what Peter means when he tells us to avoid conforming to our former desires. Instead of following our natural inclinations, we follow Christ by imitating His actions and by obeying His Word.
R Notice, also, that Peter tells us that this type of lifestyle begins in the mind. “Prepare your minds for action,” he urges. On Day 16 of this study, we learned that temptation begins in the mind. It is no surprise, then, that Holiness does as well. You prepare your mind by spending time with God. Meditate on His Word; invest in sermons and Bible lessons and devotional times (such as this one). Talk to Him and ask Him to strengthen you and help you to surrender to the leading of the Holy Spirit. When you surrender your heart, and prepare your mind for the day, your hands and feet naturally follow. That is not to say, of course, that we will ever perfect life down here. We are called to “be Holy, because God is Holy,” but we realize that the completion of that process will happen when we are with Him in Paradise. During our time here, though, we should strive to become more like Him in every way. We do that because of the hope that we have for the future. So often, those who seek only pleasure in this life are only expressing their hopelessness. They see nothing beyond this life, so they live for this moment.
Hope for Holiness • Day 30 We see so much more than that! We live with the certain hope that God’s promises will be fulfilled. Don’t forget, one of those promises is that the One who is in us is greater than the one who is in the world. If Jesus lives inside of you, then you have everything you need to demolish strongholds and leave behind your former way of life. Christ is in you! Surrender to Him, because He is your only hope for holiness. •
P.S.– 10 Marks of Holiness Do you think you are a Holy person? More importantly, does God consider you a Holy person? How can you know? Billy Graham suggested that Holiness is a pursuit that we must foster. And he suggested that the following statements should increasingly be true of you if you are growing into a Holy person. (Measure yourself by asking: “Is this true of me?”) 1. A Holy person hates what God hates and loves what God loves. 2. A Holy person has a greater fear of displeasing God than of displeasing the world. 3. A Holy person does not just live a life of faith, but labors to be like our Lord Jesus Christ. 4. A Holy person is slow to talk of “my rights” and is quick to talk about “His Will”. 5. A Holy person crucifies his fallen flesh and seeks to restrain his carnal inclinations.
6. A Holy person says “no” to Satan’s sinister suggestions and “yes” to God’s Spirit. 7. A Holy person observes the Golden Rule, doing for others as he would want them to do for him. 8. A Holy person has a spirit of mercy and benevolence. He is not content with doing no harm—but is intentional in doing good. 9. A Holy person esteems others above himself. He sees more evil in his own heart than in any other in the world. 10. A Holy person is spiritual minded. He sets his affections on things above and holds things on earth with a very loose hand. (Billy Graham concluded): Let me offer a word of advice to all who desire to be Holy: Would you be holy? Then you must begin with Christ. You will do nothing at all and make no progress until you feel your sin and weakness and flee to Him. He is the root and beginning of all Holiness and the way to be Holy is to come to Him by faith and be joined to Him. Do you want to attain Holiness? Then go to Christ. Wait for nothing. Wait for nobody. Linger not. Think not to make yourself ready. Go to Christ and say, “Lord, not only save me from the guilt of sin, but send the Spirit, whom Thou didst promise, and save me from sin’s power. Make me holy. Teach me to do Thy will.”
Write a definition for each of these types of holiness (holy = being set apart/dedicated to): Legal (law based) holiness:__________________________________________________________________________________ Relational holiness:__________________________________________________________________________________________ Which type of holiness does “religion” tend to focus on?______________________________________________________ Which type of holiness does God expect from us?____________________________________________________________ Re-read the passage, based on your last answer and definition, and describe what that practically looks like in your life: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Some people tend to make decisions based on emotions. Why is this dangerous, and how does our study passage above instruct us to short circuit this common human tendency? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Daily Scripture Reading: 1 Peter 2
