Day 7: Revealed in His Church
1 Peter 1:15–16
The battle between the flesh and the Spirit rages in the life of every believer. The Apostle Peter cautions us against slipping back to our old sinful lifestyle. We are called to be holy, set apart from sin, and set apart for Him. The Lord never requires of us that which is impossible to accomplish. The call to holiness is achievable and within reach, for the Spirit of the Lord Himself, the Spirit of holiness, empowers us to obey this commandment. Moreover, our Holy Father is conforming us to the image of His holy Son, Jesus, through the Holy Spirit.
“I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one” (John 17:11).
To be holy, we need the Father. We can do nothing apart from Him, and our command to be like Him comes directly from Him.
Reflection Prayer
Holy Father, in the name of our Lord Jesus, we thank You for Your call to holiness. Thank You for setting us apart and empowering us to live a life of holiness through the Holy Spirit who lives in us. Continue to reveal the beauty of Your holiness as we seek Your face and meditate on Your Word. In the name of our Lord Jesus, amen.
Week 1: The Holiness of God
A. W. Tozer writes in his book The Knowledge of the Holy, “We know nothing like the divine holiness. It stands apart, unique, unapproachable, incomprehensible and unattainable. The natural man is blind to it. He may fear God’s power and admire His wisdom, but His holiness he cannot even imagine. Only the Spirit of the Holy One can impart to the human spirit the knowledge of the holy.”
God is holy. Pastor Chip Ingram says, “He isn’t six or ten or one hundred times more holy than the best person you know. God Himself is an entirely different category in which He is the only member.”
God reveals His holiness to us in many ways, as we will see in the Scriptures this week. As we reflect on God’s holiness, how do we respond? Will we take off our shoes? Will we get on our face? Will we make every effort to keep peace? Will we confess or praise? Will we be God’s holy Church?
— Amy Roedding