Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory.
--1 Peter 1:8
What’s your definition of a holy life? You might be surprised to find out that God is not only holy; God is happy!
And when we talk about living a holy life, we are talking about living a life full of energy, life, power, and joy.
As our verse for today says, we have “joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory!”! That’s a joy that’s so incredible you can’t even express it! It is because of salvation through Christ.
So when I talk about holiness, I’m not talking about being pious or religious. Rather, pure holiness is a beautiful expression of the very character of God. We are separated unto God that we might live positive, joyful, exuberant lives… as well as disciplined and dedicated lives.
The upward call of every Christian is to live with a purity of heart and a purity of life that comes from the soul and is unpolluted because the presence of God is there.
You and I have been called to live a godly life… no exceptions. And it all begins with our minds. According to Proverbs 23:7, “As a man calculates in his soul, so is he.” Have you ever thought about how so many of our spiritual struggles begin when we allow our minds to wander aimlessly?
Today, I want to encourage you to make sure your thinking is controlled by the grace of God. Exercise self-discipline. Second, eliminate anything that weakens your mind or distorts your thinking or your judgment. Third, stay focused on the purposes and plan of God. And fourth, continually put your future hope in God.
These four things will help you keep your mind focused on what is good, true, and right!
Keep your mind focused on the joy of God... And the hope of your salvation today!
by Dr. Paul Chappell
“But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.”
Matthew 20:25–28
Someone said, “If you want to become the greatest in your field, no matter what it may be, equip yourself to render greater service than anyone else.” We know the importance that God places on service, both from the commands of Scripture and from the example of Jesus. He was the ultimate picture of sacrificial living for the sake of others. Though He deserved praise and glory, He was willing to lay all of that aside to fulfill God’s plan of salvation.
When Jesus was on the cross, His enemies mocked Him, trying to add to the weight of His suffering. “He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him” (Matthew 27:42). Yet in their evil intention, they expressed a profound truth. It was not possible for Jesus to save both Himself and us.
In the same way, if we are to be of genuine service to others, it will come at a price. The time, talent, and resources that we put toward meeting the needs of others could be used for our own benefit. Or, we can choose to pour our lives and what we have into the lives of others, following the example of Jesus. And when we do, we have God’s promise that His grace will supply everything we need.
Today’s Growth Principle:
Service for God requires sacrifice, but His grace extended to us equips us for every burden.
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