Join us Thursday night for our monthly Men’s Fellowship Night. Our speaker this month is Dr. Dan Stott, Calvary Grace Church in Shipbottom, NJ. Dinner is at 6:15 PM followed by the worship teaching times and fun in the Activity Center. Come, bring a friend. Please call for information – 800-453-7942

Is morality the same as being Holy?

If you had asked me 10 years ago, what the meaning of Holiness was I probably would have defined it as the act of refraining from sin. The description would have included of bunch of do’s and don’ts, and primarily just allude toward moral behavior.

Though making good decisions and conducting a life that is upright and pure unto the Lord is noble, holiness runs much deeper than a few good choices.

The Angels cried, “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!” (Isaiah 6:3)

The landscape of holiness is an act of God. Only God is truly Holy and can reckon a thing Holy. Something Holy is sacred, set apart from all things evil; it is higher than our finite minds can consider. We cannot begin to comprehend all it encompasses, and it is indescribable for our limited human vernacular.

“I am the LORD, and there is no other; apart from me there is no God. I will strengthen you, though you have not acknowledged me, so that from the rising of the sun to the place of its setting people may know there is none besides me. I am the LORD, and there is no other.” (Isaiah 45:5, 6)

Whoever trusts in Him has been granted access to the indescribable God of creation – the God that called us out of a life of sin into the eternal glory of His presence. This is positional holiness, the new identity that is so gracefully provided through Christ.

“But as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,”

Consecration is not the same set apartness as Holy, but consecration should be the direct result of Him making you holy.

Then Joshua said to the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.” (Joshua 3:5 ESV)

We are the New Testament, chosen children of God, and since He called us to righteousness, we should conduct ourselves in a way that brings Him glory.

Consider the Hymn that Frances Ridley Havergal that inspired her after being used as an instrument for the amazing conversion of 10 nonbelievers.

Take my life, and let it be

Consecrated, Lord, to Thee;

Take my moments and my days,

Let them flow in ceaseless praise.

Take my love; my Lord, I pour

At Thy feet its treasure-store.

Take myself, and I will be

Ever, only, all for Thee

She previously prayed to the Lord, ““Lord, give me all in this house!”

“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.” (Isaiah 43:1b) –Juan Mendez is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and is serving full-time at America’s Keswick. He has been appointed to serve as a Chaplain at the Colony of Mercy. You can write to Juan @ jmendez@americaskeswick.org

Daily Bible Reading: Mark 15-16

Think About This: My heart, which is so full to overflowing, has often been solaced and refreshed by music when sick and weary. Martin Luther

This Week’s Verse to Memorize: Jabez called upon the God of Israel, saying, “Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my border, and that your hand might be with me, and that you would keep me from harm so that it might not bring me pain!” And God granted what he asked. 1 Chronicles 4:10