Without Holiness No One Shall See The Lord

​This statement taken from Hebrews 12:14 frames the thought of our time together this morning.  Taken from 1 Peter we are admonished not only to live holy lives, but to be holy because God is holy.  With all our human enticements, if we are truthful with ourselves, we would have to admit, holy is not a word we would use to describe ourselves.  Maybe from the outside (possibly), but on the inside where the truth lives among all the thoughts and ideas which flow through our minds- holy becomes not only a challenged idea, but an inaccurate portrayal of our true self.  Since God knows all of this, especially the challenges of holiness inside of humanity, then why does he call us to be holy?  That is a question worthy of an answer which we will address through the thoughts of Peter in 1 Peter 4.  A better question would be, as those who belong to God as a part of his family, how can we be anything other than holy?  How can we reflect his image in a life full of everything but God?  Truth is we can’t; and left to ourselves it is likely we will be “carried away” by some selfish interest and very likely choose to live in a completely different way than that which God is calling us to.  In that light, it makes total sense for God to set such a high bar of expectation for his children.  It is when our lives are transformed by the grace and expectations of God that the power of God is on display in us.  More on this at 11:00.
 
Blessings,
Lamar