Daily Bread 2/18/2025

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Email from Abiding Place     Daily Bread – February 18, 2025 (The Third Day – Genesis 1:9-13) Romans 6:22 – But now, having been set free from sin, and have become servants to God, you now have your fruit unto holiness, and the end eternal life. Holiness is Defined by God’s Nature & Character Recognizing how the fruits of holiness are in our lives as an act of submission and obedience to God is essential. When we recognize we are coming under the influence of unholy emotions, we must submit ourselves to God and bring it to an end. For example, the contrast between the fruit of sorrow and the fruit of joy is easy to discern. When we find our members taken over by the cares and concerns of the world and sorrow begins to dominate us, we must recognize we are not yielding ourselves to the Spirit of God. At the very moment we recognize it happening, we must choose to dwell in Jesus by turning to Him as our Savior and Lord. As we look unto the One Who has come to provide for us, Who is the Author and Finisher (Leader and Perfecter) of our faith, He comes and rescues us. As we yield our members to God, the joy of the Lord begins to spring up and flow out of us as rivers of living water. Holiness is defined by that which is consistent with God’s nature and character. God, Himself, is the personification of holiness – and thus, is the standard of it. The people of God were placed under a strict command to maintain the honor, reputation, and glory of the holiness conferred upon them by God (Leviticus 10:3, 11:44, 45, 19:2, 20:26, 22:32; Numbers 15:40-41, 20:12-13, 27:14; Deuteronomy 7:6, 14:2, 32:51; Isaiah 63:10,11; Psalms 51:11). In the Old Testament, the holiness of God was emulated in His people’s lives by them obeying His commands. In the New Testament, the Holiness of God has come to life by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit – Who brings the manifest holiness of God’s own Person into our lives as we yield to Him and walk according to His leadership (Galatians 5:16; Romans 8:4,14). Blessings, Pastor Mark Spitsbergen