God calls
each one of us to be holy, because He is holy (1 Peter 1:16). As we face our
flesh with each new morning, this appears to be a daunting task. Our
temptations and carnal desires sometimes get the best of us.
I hear
Christians saying that it is too hard to be holy, and that Jesus had an
advantage over us. This is true according to humanistic thinking, but not
according to Biblical principles.
Jesus was
half God and half man, since God's Spirit conceived Him in Mary's womb (Luke
1:35). He was filled with God's Spirit each moment of the day. When his human
flesh was tempted, He had the God half to keep him perfect.
We have
the same opportunity to walk in holiness. When we come to Christ, His Spirit
moves right in. Our body is His temple and He fills us through all of our being
with all the fullness of God (Ephesians 3:16-19).
Satan's
temptations cause us to sin and to live apart from God. The price of sin is
degradation and loss. Pleasure for a moment reaps for us shame and often deplorable
living conditions.
However, God
gives us a way to escape every temptation, which we will ever experience (1
Corinthians 10:13). As we submit to Christ in us, and walk by His Spirit's
direction, we will not fulfill the lusts of our flesh (Galatians 5:16).
The entire
power of the Godhead, the Trinity, dwells within us (Colossians 2:9). We are
free from the power of sin, and we are made to walk in new life through Christ
in us (Romans 6:6-8).
Christ in
us is our eternal hope of glory (Colossians 1:27). Although our body is still
perishing due to Adam's sin, God's Spirit in us gives us both life and
righteousness (Romans 8:10).
God
strengthens us with His power through His Spirit in our soul and spirit
(Ephesians 3:16). Our hope in Him is the firm and secure anchor of our soul
(Hebrews 6:19).
Prayer:
Father
God, thank You that Christ exchanges His holiness for our sinfulness (2
Corinthians 5:21). Remind us that our witness for You depends on our righteous
walk in this world. Non-Christians watch us, even when we do not realize it. Our attitude each day, and even during trials, will speak more to them than all
the words we could ever preach to them.
As Your
Body, the people who work in children's ministry will impact the children in
their sphere of influence; and then, these children will affect the lives of
countless people during their lifetime, because of Christ in us. Even as we
minister to adults, we help them to grow in their devotion to and knowledge of
You. Helps us to be holy, even as You are Holy.
Thought
for the Day:
As our
soul yearns for God in the night, our spirit within us diligently seeks Him;
and when His judgments come upon the earth, all of the inhabitants of the world
learn to walk in righteousness. - Isaiah 26:9
