Devotions with Pastor Jerry

What are you pursuing in life?
Is it Holiness or Worldly Happiness?

Peter said if we are Christ followers then we are sojourners passing through this world and exiles of this world, so in that we should abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against our soul.

John expressed it this way: No one who abides in Him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him… let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as He is righteous. Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in Him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God. By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.

Therein the question begs us for a response. Are we seeking after God and His Holiness? If so consecrate yourselves, therefore, and be holy, for I am the Lord your God. (Leviticus 20:7) For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. (1 Thessalonians 4:7)

Are you doing some of the things you used to do, knowing they are not of a Holiness nature? Then pray: Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts!
And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting! (Psalm 139:23)

Are you seeing spiritual growth in your life? If so, remember who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began (2 Timothy 1:9)

Gods Holy Word convicts us and leads us to a holier life. Jesus prayed for God to sanctify us, to “set us apart” for His holy purpose. God’s Word; as Paul wrote, can cleanse us from all unrighteousness by the washing with His word. As we yield to the Holy Spirit, God will be faithful to create in us a clean heart and a renewed spirit.

Each day of our life the world is raging a battle against our holiness. Everything about us; our heart, mind, soul and our will is at stake in the battle to be lost or won for our Holiness. So above all, fight on to Pursue...holiness, without which no one will see the Lord. (Hebrews 12:14)

So my brothers and sisters, be constant in prayer, yield to the Holy Spirit and fill your mind with God’s Word, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.(Philippians 2:13-16)

May God Bless you with His Grace and Peace as He leads you in your pursuit of Holiness!

Pastor Jerry