You Shall be Holy

"You shall be holy for I, the Lord your God, am holy." - Leviticus 19:2

What does it mean to be "holy"? To be "holy" is to be set apart. 

Why are we "set apart"? We are set apart from the people of the world to have relationship with our Creator God and Savior.

How are we, the people of God, set apart from the people of the world? 

We are set apart through: (1) relationship (with God and with other believers); (2) brokenness; (3) surrender (to Christ's Lordship); and (4) servanthood.

In the week's ahead we will explore each of the four aspects of holiness. You are encouraged to join us in these studies as we continue our pursuit of God's presence!

To Know Him is to Love Him!

"For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified." - 1 Corinthians 2:2

To know anyone takes time and commitment. We can never be intimate friends with those we only have a casual relationship with.

We may know a lot about them, but nothing that others do not know. How well do you know Jesus? How much time do you spend in His presence? How much time do you spend meditating upon His Word?

He is calling you and I to the NEXT level of surrender, so that He may claim more of your heart for His Kingdom. How willing are you to surrender your will for His?

We choose, every moment of every day, whether we will draw nearer to The Lord, or further away from Him. What have you been choosing that matters more to you than the Lord's will for your life? Yet, despite our half steps and back sliding, The Lord is continually beckoning each of us to come closer to Him.

Most of God's people know a lot about Him. They can quote His Word and may even serve in some capacity in the church. But, few take the time to sit quietly at His feet, to listen to His voice.

God created us to live in continual communion with Him. But, because of ignorance or laziness or unbelief, few of have a real or intimate relationship with our Lord.

The purpose of surrender is not so that you can boast about how close you are to the Lord. The purpose is the manifestation of God's will in, and for, your life.

When you truly know the FATHER's heart, you will share His burden for the hurting and the lost. You were created for the purpose of sharing God's love for the hurting and the lost, with those who live in darkness and need to know of His great Love for them!

Don't allow your time and treasure to be spent on worldly pursuits-the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life. Surrender all that you are to receive His Life. That's the least that any of us can do for the One who surrendered everything (including His life) for you! S

All I Have is Yours!

All I Have is Yours!
Luke 7:36-48 NLT 

36 One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to have dinner with him, so Jesus went to his home and sat down to eat. 37 When a certain immoral woman from that city heard he was eating there, she brought a beautiful alabaster jar filled with expensive perfume. 38 Then she knelt behind him at his feet, weeping. Her tears fell on his feet, and she wiped them off with her hair. Then she kept kissing his feet and putting perfume on them. 39 When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would know what kind of woman is touching him. She's a sinner!" 40 Then Jesus answered his thoughts. "Simon," he said to the Pharisee, "I have something to say to you." "Go ahead, Teacher," Simon replied. 41 Then Jesus told him this story: "A man loaned money to two people--500 pieces of silver to one and 50 pieces to the other. 42 But neither of them could repay him, so he kindly forgave them both, canceling their debts. Who do you suppose loved him more after that?" 43 Simon answered, "I suppose the one for whom he canceled the larger debt." "That's right," Jesus said. 44 Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, "Look at this woman kneeling here. When I entered your home, you didn't offer me water to wash the dust from my feet, but she has washed them with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You didn't greet me with a kiss, but from the time I first came in, she has not stopped kissing my feet. 46 You neglected the courtesy of olive oil to anoint my head, but she has anointed my feet with rare perfume. 47 "I tell you, her sins--and they are many--have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love." 48 Then Jesus said to the woman, "Your sins are forgiven."

She only wanted to serve Him. But, the religious had already judged her and found her lacking. Where were her morals? Why was she in their church? Did she belong there? Didn't she belong on the streets? Was she clean enough to touch Jesus?

Imagine her shame! Imagine her pain! Imagine her love for the only One who really knew her. Though she had done some horrific things during her lifetime. Perhaps, this Man would not embarrass her. Perhaps, this Man would not judge her.

She loved Him so much. She knew He forgave sins and sinners. So, she took all she had. She kissed his feet. She didn't know that she was crying. She didn't know that her tears were flowing over His feet. So, she wiped them with her hair. 

She gave Him all she had: her sin, her shame, her sullied reputation. She poured the alabaster box of ointment on the Master's feet. She didn't know what it was worth. She didn't care what it cost. She only wanted to love Him.

She had sinned so often that she lost count. So, she gave Him all that was left after all the suggestive glances, accusatory stares, and overt hostility. She could have hidden herself beneath shame, resentment, and bitterness. But, she tried love, instead.

She wasn't trying to earn His love. She knew she did not deserve that from Him. She only wanted to give Him what little love remained within her own broken heart.

Would it be enough? It wasn't enough to the religious. It wasn't enough to the other sinners. But, it was enough for Jesus. The only One who would give His life for hers!