Memorize: Therefore living the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God. Hebrews 6:1
Read: Romans 12:1-2 (KJV)
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Bible in one year:
Jeremiah 11-13,
Luke 9:7-27,
Hymnal:
sing hymns 15
Message:
Many Christians believe that it is humanly impossible to be perfect because of the limitations of our flesh, but Jesus said that we should be perfect, just as our Father in Heaven is perfect (Mathew 5:48). For Jesus to have said this, it means that perfection is attainable.
However, the only way to attain the level of perfection that God requires of is to follow example which He has set, and that example is the Lord Jesus Christ. When Jesus was on earth, he lived a life of perfection. Hebrew 4:15 testifies to this, saying:
‘’For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.’’
Just as Jesus was able to live a spotless life while He was on earth, it is also possible for us to live a life of absolute purity and holiness, which is pleasing to God.
In Luke 9:23, our Lord told us how to follow His example to live a holy life, saying:
‘’…If any man come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.’’
In other words, you must fist deny yourself if you will follow His dead. Denying yourself means letting go of your old nature. To live holy, you may how to change your friends, some places you go to, websites you visit and your old habits.
You will also need to deny your body some of the pleasures it use to enjoy. No matter how much the flesh craves alcohol, hard drug, illicit sex, stealing, lying and the like, you must not let it have its way. To successfully live as a new creature you are, your old man must die first. When you slap a dead man, he does not get up to retaliate because there is no more life in him. In the same way, you must deny yourself to the point where your former cravings became completely dead.
Secondly, you must carry your cross daily. Many Christians make the mistake of planning to live a holy life without consciously taking it a day at a time. The reason you don’t have bad breath is because you brush your teeth daily. Your body remains clean because you take your bath daily. Similarly, the way to keep your spirit clean is to carry your cross daily. When you wake up every morning, turn to God and tell Him to help you live holy throughout that day; then say to yourself with determination,” Throughout today, I must not commit any sin.” When you make this a habit, you will discover after some time that you have been successfully living a holy life.
Key points: Rather than concluding that it is impossible to life holy, why don’t you take steps towards it with God’s guidance?
Open Heavens Daily Devotional Lessons was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical Churches in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer's Ministries.
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