Daily Bread 12/14/2023

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Daily Bread – December 14, 2023 (The Fifth Day – Genesis 1:20-23) 1 Thessalonians 3:12-13 – And the Lord make you to increase in love one unto another and unto all as also we to you. So that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before God and our Father in the coming of Jesus our Lord with all His holy ones. Blameless In Holiness God’s saints, or holy ones, are those who have been cleansed and consecrated to God by the blood of Jesus and transformed by the new birth. We are those who have been brought out of darkness and slavery to sin so we can live a life of obedience to the ways of God. The holiness we have been gifted with – and are strengthened to walk in – is the Holiness of God. The Holiness of God is a description of His values and character, which is likened unto a river of pure living water untainted by any immorality or spiritual impurity. The Greek phrase presented in verse thirteen is, “blameless in holiness” (amemptous en hagiosune) which would be an equivalent to “perfect in holiness”. Similarly, Paul told the Church at Corinth they were to perfect holiness in the fear of God (2 Corinthians 7:1). The way holiness is perfected in our lives is that we commit ourselves to obeying God and walking in spiritual purity – thus abstaining from sin, which Paul characterizes as the filthiness of the flesh and spirit. Paul actually uses a ceremonial phrase of cleansing or washing, which is characteristic of the ritual performed by the priest before entering into the presence of God. The Lord disciplines us so we may share in His Holiness (Hebrews 12:10). We correct our children so they will learn to walk in obedience to our will and what we have come to know as good and right. How much more will our Heavenly Father correct us, Who is devoted to our salvation and eternal inheritance. We will either be condemned with the world, or we will be chastened by the Lord, so that we may share in His Holiness (1 Corinthians 11:32; Hebrews 12:10). God is devoted to helping us learn the ways of His life that will last forever – all we have to do is respond. Blessings, Pastor Mark Spitsbergen