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!
Tuesday, July 02, 2019
by Dr. Paul Chappell
“And he came to the sheepcotes by the way, where was a cave; and Saul went in to cover his feet: and David and his men remained in the sides of the cave. And the men of David said unto him, Behold the day of which the LORD said unto thee, Behold, I will deliver thine enemy into thine hand, that thou mayest do to him as it shall seem good unto thee. Then David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul’s robe privily. And it came to pass afterward, that David’s heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul’s skirt.”
1 Samuel 24:3–5
The jealous Saul took an army of three thousand men out, not to fight Israel’s enemies, but to kill David. The threat was so great that David had to hide his family outside the country, and he and a small group of men lived in the mountains and caves. If they went to a city, spies would tell Saul, and he would show up. On one occasion, David was hiding in a cave with some of his men when Saul’s army came near. Saul went inside the cave, not knowing that the very man he was trying to kill was there. David’s men advised him to kill Saul while he had the chance, but David refused, instead cutting a piece off the bottom of Saul’s robe. After Saul left the cave, David revealed himself, and showed Saul the piece of his robe he had cut off—proof that Saul’s life had been in David’s hands.
Even though it was only David’s restraint that kept Saul alive, David still felt guilty even about the small step he had taken against the king. Despite all that he had endured and the unfairness of his circumstances, David’s heart was still tender. He had not seared his conscience by justifying evil toward others because of the evil done toward him. There is plenty of hurt in the world around us. We need to be aware of the impact we have on others.
Today's Growth Principle:
We must remain sensitive to the way our words and actions impact others.
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