God's Word on That

Tag: jesus

  • God’s Vineyard Remains

    It is very difficult to read this list of fruits in GALATIANS 5:22-23 and not see all the ways we fall short.  But before you start beating yourself up, try to look at this list from the point of view of the One who gave up His life out of love for you.  To do this, imagine your heart is an orchard full of many kinds of fruit trees, and picture yourself walking through this orchard, with Jesus.  As you walk together, you notice Jesus looks happier and happier – and that makes you nervous.  How can He not see the scraggly bushes that stick out like sour thumbs – moments when pride or moodiness overtook you?  What about that time when you said the wrong thing and ended up hurting your neighbor’s feelings?  Surely He can see that event, ugly as a tall weed!

    But then He stops and tells you how much He is enjoying the walk.  He starts pointing out all the fruit He is seeing on the trees – fruit you never really noticed.  He sees the way you held your tongue when you wanted to lash out at a co-worker.  He sees the way you went out of your way to help a friend and the way you serve your family.  As you see this orchard through His eyes, you are amazed at how much fruit there really is.  Yes, He sees the occasional weed or bad specimen of fruit, but He doesn’t look too worried.  “This doesn’t bother Me too much,” He tells you.  “I love you, and I’ve been helping you to grow all this fruit for so many years.  I haven’t stopped working in your orchard and I see all the different ways you are welcoming Me.  With the power of My Cross, with the grace of My indwelling Spirit; it’s only a matter of time before the good fruit overtakes the weeds.  Now just imagine how much more fruit you would bear if you spent just a little more time with Me every day!”

    In days and generations to come Jacob shall take root; Israel shall blossom and send forth shoots and fill the whole world with fruit [of the knowledge of the true God]. (Isaiah 27:6)

    Once more a remnant of the house of Judah will take root below and bear fruit above. (Isaiah 37:31)

    And the remnant that has survived of the house of Judah shall again take root downward and bear fruit upward. (2 Kings 19:30)

    For the palace shall be forsaken… until the Spirit is poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness becomes a fruitful field, and the fruitful field is valued as a forest. (Isaiah 2:14-15)

    May God Almighty bless you and make you fruitful… (Genesis 28:3)

    … Your fruitfulness comes from Me. (Hosea 14:8)

    Peace, peace to him who is far off [both Jew and Gentile] and to him who is near, says the Lord; I create the fruit of his lips, and I will heal him [make his lips blossom anew with speech in thankful praise]. (Isaiah 57:19)

    The earth is satisfied and abounds with the fruit of His works (Psalm 104:13).

    My fruit is better than gold, yes, than refined gold, and My increase than choice silver (Proverbs 8:19).

    Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him.  He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream.  It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green.  It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit. (Jeremiah 17:7-8)

    Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in His ways.  You will eat the fruit of your labor… (Psalm 128:1-2)

    Already the reaper is getting his wages [he who does the cutting now has his reward], for he is gathering fruit unto life eternal, so that he who does the planting and he who does the reaping may rejoice together. (John 4:36)

  • Good Fruit or Bad Fruit?

    Make a tree good and its fruit will be good; or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad.  For a tree is recognized by its fruit (Matthew 12:33).

    For there is no good (healthy) tree that bears decayed (worthless, stale) fruit, nor on the other hand does a decaying (worthless, sickly) tree bear good fruit.  For each tree is known and identified by its own fruit… (Luke 6:43-44)

    You will fully recognize them by their fruits.  Do people pick grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles?  Even so, every healthy (sound) tree bears good fruit [worthy of admiration], but the sickly (decaying, worthless) tree bears bad (worthless) fruit.  A good (healthy) tree cannot bear bad (worthless) fruit, nor can a bad (diseased) tree bear excellent fruit (worthy of admiration).  Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and cast into the fire.  Therefore, you will fully know them by their fruits. (Matthew 7:16-20)

    Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they who indulge in it shall eat the fruit of it [for death or life] (Proverbs 18:21).

    A man’s [moral] self shall be filled with the fruit of his mouth; and with the consequence of his words he must be satisfied [whether good or evil] (Proverbs 18:20).

    From the fruit of his words a man shall be satisfied with good, and the work of a man’s hands shall come back to him [as a harvest] (Proverbs 12:14).

    Whoever tends the fig tree shall eat its fruit; so he who patiently and faithfully guards and heeds his Master shall be honored (Proverbs 27:18).

    [It is] the hard-working farmer [who labors to produce] who must be the first partaker of the fruits [one of the first to receive a share of the crops] (2 Timothy 2:6).

    But you have planted wickedness.  You have reaped evil.  You have eaten the fruit of deception because you have depended on your own strength… (Hosea 10:13)

    Since they hated knowledge and did not choose to fear the Lord… they will eat the fruit of their ways and be filled with the fruit of their schemes (Proverbs 1:29, 31).

    You have planted them and they have taken root; they grow and bear fruit.  You are always on their lips, but far from their hearts (Jeremiah 12:2).

    Hear, O earth: behold, I am bringing evil upon this people, the fruit of their thoughts (their schemes and devices) because they have not listened and obeyed My words, and as for My law, they have rejected it (Jeremiah 6:19).

    The Kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit (Matthew 21:43).

    I, the Lord, search the mind; I try the heart, even to give to every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings (Jeremiah 17:10).

    And I will punish you according to the fruit of your doings, says the Lord… (Jeremiah 21:14)

    Great [are You] in counsel and mighty in deeds, whose eyes are open to all the ways of the sons of men, to reward or repay each one according to the fruits of his doings (Jeremiah 32:19).

    Bring forth fruit that is consistent with repentance [let your lives prove your change of heart]…  Already the ax is lying at the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire (Matthew 3:8, 10).

    Bear fruits that are deserving and consistent with [your] repentance…  Even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees, so that every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and cast into the fire (Luke 3:8-9).

    A man had a fig tree, planted in his vineyard.  And he went to look for fruit on it but did not find any.  So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, “For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this tree and haven’t found any.  Cut it down!  Why should it use up the soil?”  “Sir,” the man replied, “Leave it for one more year and I will dig around it and fertilize it.  If it bears fruit next year, fine.  If not, then cut it down.” (Luke 13:6-9)

    The wicked desire the booty of evil men, but the root of the [uncompromisingly] righteous yields [richer fruitage] (Proverbs 12:12).

    Discipline… yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it [a harvest of fruit which consists in righteousness – in conformity to God’s will in purpose, thought, and action, resulting in right living and right standing with God] (Hebrews 12:11).

  • The Way of Fruitfulness

    You cannot operate in the Gifts of the Spirit before you first operate in the Fruits of the Spirit.  Fruits are for the good of all the Church.  Everything God created was created to give forth fruit.

    Then God said, “Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit after their kind, with seed in them, on the earth”; and it was so.  And the earth brought forth vegetation, plants yielding seed after their kind and trees bearing fruit, with seed in them, after their kind, and God saw that it was good. (Genesis 1:11-12)

    And God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth…” (Genesis 1:22, 28)

    Likewise, my brothers, you have undergone death as to the law through the [crucified] body of Christ, so that now you may belong to Another – to Him who was raised from the dead – in order that we may bear fruit for God. (Romans 7:4)

    Unless a kernel of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains [just one grain, it never becomes more but lives] by itself alone.  But if it dies, it produces many other seeds and yields a rich harvest (John 12:24).

    And those sown on the good (well-adapted) soil are the ones who hear the Word and receive and accept and welcome it and bear fruit – some thirty times as much as was sown, some sixty times as much, and some [even] a hundred times as much (Mark 4:20).

    As for what was sown on good soil, this is he who hears the Word and grasps and comprehends it; he indeed bears fruit and yields in one case a hundred times as much as was sown, in another sixty times as much, and in another thirty (Matthew 13:23).

    But as for that [seed] in the good soil, these are [the people] who, hearing the Word, hold it fast in a just (noble, virtuous) and worthy heart, and steadily bring forth fruit with patience (Luke 8:15).

    And he shall be like a tree firmly planted [and tended] by the streams of water, ready to bring forth its fruit in its season; its leaf also shall not fade or wither; and everything he does shall prosper [and come to maturity]. (Psalm 1:3)

    The (uncompromisingly) righteous shall flourish like the palm tree [be long-lived, stately, upright, useful, and fruitful]; they shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon [majestic, stable, durable, and incorruptible].  Planted in the house of the Lord, they shall flourish in the courts of our God.  [Growing in grace] they shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be full of sap [spiritual vitality] and [rich in the] verdure [trust, love, and contentment]. (Psalm 92:12-14)

    Say to the righteous it shall be well with them, for they shall enjoy the fruit of their deeds (Isaiah 3:10).

  • A Study on Fruits

    Every child of God has the same identity in Christ Jesus and opportunity to grow.  When our identity is firmly established and we have matured to the point where the fruit of the Spirit is evident, we will feel fulfilled when we use our gifts and talents to edify others.  God has not distributed gifts and talents equally and for that reason alone we can be assured that our sense of worth isn’t based on what we do.  God has known us from the foundation of the world.  He has entrusted us with certain life endowments.  He will certainly lead us in a way that makes use of those gifts and talents.  It is our responsibility to take advantage of every opportunity as it arises.

    The wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure, then … full of mercy and good fruit (James 3:17-18).

    You did not choose Me but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit… fruit that will last (John 15:16).

    This is to My Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be My disciples (John 15:8).

    I am the vine; you are the branches.  Whoever lives in Me and I in him bears much (abundant) fruit.  However, apart from Me [cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing (John 15:5).

    He cuts off every branch that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit He prunes, so it will be more fruitful…  You cannot bear fruit unless you remain in Me (John 15:2, 4).

    Now [God] who provides seed for the sower and bread for eating will also provide and multiply your [resources for] sowing and increase the fruits of your righteousness [which manifests itself in active goodness, kindness, and charity] (2 Corinthians 9:10).

    May you abound in and be filled with the fruits of righteousness which come through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God (Philippians 1:11)

    And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord, and may please Him in every way, bearing fruit in every good work (Colossians 1:10).

    Through Him therefore, let us constantly and at all times offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, which is the fruit of lips that thankfully acknowledge and confess and glorify His name (Hebrews 13:15).

    The fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the work which His presence within accomplishes] is love, joy (gladness), peace, patience (an even temper, forbearance), kindness, goodness (benevolence), faithfulness, gentleness (meekness, humility), self-control (self-restraint, continence).  Against such things there is no law [that can bring a charge]. (Galatians 5:22-23)

    For the fruit (the effect, the product) of the Light or the Spirit [consists] in every form of kindly goodness, uprightness of heart, and trueness of life.  And try to learn [in your experience] what is pleasing to the Lord [let your lives be constant proofs of what is most acceptable to Him].  Take no part in and have no fellowship with the fruitless deeds and enterprises of darkness… (Ephesians 5:9-11)

  • Fruits of the Spirit

    The Fruits of the Spirit should be our main concern:

    • Love – affection, unconditional concern, benevolence
    • Joy – cheerfulness in all situations
    • Peace – worry-less-ness, quietness with confidence
    • Patience – not with things as to endure, but with people as interruptions; for handling interruptions is life
    • Kindness – attitude, disposition, tenderness
    • Goodness – not attitude but energized nature towards good works and godly deeds
    • Faithfulness – trust, fidelity, assurance, belief, loyalty
    • Gentleness – responsibility with power, inward grace
    • Self-control – wall of protection to reduce vulnerability

    Because all the Fruits of the Spirit are God’s by nature.  Since we are of God’s nature, these fruits belong to each one of us all the time.

    What would you accept in trade for the fruit of the Spirit?  What material possession, or amount of money, or position on the ladder of success would you exchange for Love, Joy, Peace, or any of them? 

    How can you know if you are being led by the Spirit?  If you respond to any situation by exercising any one of these gifts, then you are following the Spirit’s lead.  Walking by the Spirit is a moment-by-moment / day-by-day experience.  If you are trying to keep up a front of Christian Perfection in order to encourage saints and win sinners – forget it!  That will never happen.  But when you openly admit and ask for forgiveness for fleshly choices, you model the kind of spiritual growth which will touch both saints and sinners alike.

     How do we walk by the Spirit?  If I answered by giving a rigid formula, you would be back under another law.  Walking by the Spirit is a relationship issue, not a legal issue or a ritualistic exercise.  Relationships are more important to God than achievements.  After all, Jesus declared the two greatest commandments are to love God and people.  We can actually stand our ground on moral issues without violate Spirit fruits!  If you cannot do something with love and self-control, maybe it is better left undone.  Don’t lose control over the only person you can control!

    The following sections contain God’s words on the various fruits of the Spirit.  Where applicable, I used the Amplified Bible version of the verse to clarify some of the wordage used in hopes that it would help in the study.  In other places, the Amplified seemed to muddy the waters instead, so I used a simplified version in those instances.  And I tried to place the verses in an orderly fashion, after praying for wisdom of course.  Now I pray that these verses and choices and sections provide some comfort and peace and, if possible, zeal for those reading them.  May our God bless you on your journey to understand His Word and His ways.

  • Encouragement For The Seeker

    In approaching God, the seeker discovers that the Divine Being dwells in obscurity, hidden behind a cloud of unknowing. Nevertheless, he should not be discouraged but set his will with a naked intent unto God. This cloud is between the seeker and God so that [the seeker] may never “see” God clearly by the light of understanding nor feel Him in the emotions. But by the mercy of God faith can break through into His Presence, if the seeker but believe the Word and press on. (John M. Watkins)

    Let us keep seeking to come closer to our God.

    That God can be known by the soul in tender personal experience while remaining infinitely aloof from the curious eyes of reason constitutes a paradox best described by Fredrick W. Faber: “Darkness to the intellect but sunshine to the heart.” (A. W. Tozer)

    When coming to know God, reason must stand at the door while the heart ventures forth.

    “You feel unsafe; you’re frightened and fear limits the joy you experience in your life. What are you afraid of? Pain? Rejection? Being killed? Did you know that I am at peace always? Did you know My Spirit — the same Spirit that is in Me — is in you? I have built a wall of protection around you so that the invisible dragons of the night will not harm you. I save you from the dangers of the daytime. I am for you. Who can be against you? But you worry because of past experiences. I care for you. Every hair on your head is numbered!” (Christ Jesus)

    God is for us, who can be against us? God is for us, we are not alone! God is for us we are for each other — Alleluia! God is for us! (Billy Crocket)

    Throughout the expanse of creation, God has hidden things for us to discover, to enjoy, and with which to perceive the nature of our Creator. No one can understand all the ways of God. However, by studying the Bible and His creation, we can serve Him and find fulfillment in our work.

    Our God is a God who not merely restores, but takes up our mistakes and follies into His plans for us and brings good out of them! This is part of the wonder of His gracious sovereignty… This is God’s promise. This is how good He is! No matter what you feel, God is always good. Today, don’t make excuses for yourself. Turn from a focus of how bad things are to how good God is. Let today mark a new direction in your life.

    O Light of the Word, help me to stay so close in touch with You that I will be able to accurately reflect Your Brightness.

  • Seeking God and His Godliness

    For many years I had taken note of verses and sayings from various people that pertained to practicing godly traits. In my notebooks of these keepsakes I always referred to them as “Way to Walk” verses. They have served to keep my mind on what is important. I pray they will do the same, if not more, for you.

    A road will be there and a way; it will be called the Holy Way (Isaiah 35:8).

    Let us seek the Lord’s path, for there are riches and pleasures there.

    O God, You are my God — earnestly I seek You. My soul thirsts for You; my body longs for You, in a dry and weary land where there is no [other like You] (Psalm 63:1).

    God did this so men would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us (Act 17:27).

    Seek the Lord and His strength; seek His face evermore (1 Chronicles 16:11). Seek the Lord, all you meek of the earth, who have upheld His justice (Zephaniah 2:3).

    Seek the Lord while He may be found. Call on Him while He is near (Isaiah 55:6).

    But [if] from there you seek the Lord your God you will find Him if you look for Him with all your heart and with all your soul (Deuteronomy 4:29).

    Seek and you will find… for everyone who seeks finds (Matthew 7:7, Luke 11:9-10).

    You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart (Jeremiah 29:13).

    The Lord is good to those whose hope is in Him, to the one who seeks Him (Lamentations 3:25).

    The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble; those who know Your name will trust in You; for You, O Lord, have never forsaken those who seek You (Psalm 9:9-10).

    One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in His holy temple (Psalm 27:4).

    Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men! For He satisfies the longing soul, and fills the hungry soul with good things (Psalm 107:8-9).

    But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believer (1) that God exists and (2) that God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6).

  • The Pursuit of Holiness

    The Christian life is all paradox!!!  Think about it.  The goal of the Christian life is death, not success.  The first will be last, death is in return for life, as life for death, and we are encouraged to offer praise and thanksgiving to God to overcome any spirit of heaviness or depression!

    Our life as a Christian is a paradox.

    We know that our old self was crucified with Him in order that sin’s dominion over the body may be abolished, so that we may no longer be enslaved to sin, since a person who has died is freed from sin’s claims (Romans 6:6-7). I discover this principle: when I want to do good, evil is with me (Romans 7:21). I have to [keep remembering and thinking of] myself dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus, to not let sin reign in my mortal body, to obey its desires… but as those who are alive from the dead, I offer to God all the parts of my body as weapons for Him to use (Romans 6:11-13).

    It does take time to be holy.  It takes time to cultivate a walk with the Lord that will begin to flow naturally – because the enemy is so much more assertive and powerful than we are…  And so creative, so full of new ideas on how to derail us and demoralize us.  We need to look to the power that comes from God’s presence and invite Him to make us holy vessels (Jeff Bridges).

    If we live according to the flesh, we are going to die. But if by the Spirit we put to death the deeds of the body, we will live (Romans 8:13). God’s promise.

    The pursuit of holiness deals largely with putting off the old self -– dealing with sinful patterns in our lives.  To put on the new self is to develop Christ-like character traits.  It is just as important to put on the new self as it is to put off the old.  The practice of godliness would then be our next endeavor.

    So put to death whatever in you is worldly (Colossians 3:5). Train yourself in godliness (1 Timothy 4:7).

    We are seeking to grow in our devotion to the most wonderful Person in all the universe, the infinitely glorious and loving God.  Nothing can compare with the privilege of knowing Him in whose presence is fullness of joy and in whose hand there are pleasures forever more!

    Since we have such promises [from God], we should wash ourselves clean from every impurity of flesh and spirit, making our sanctification complete in the fear of God (2 Corinthians 7:1). The Kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. Whoever serves the Messiah in this way is acceptable to God (Romans 14:17-18).

  • Called To A Holy Priesthood

    In his book, With Christ in the School of Prayer, Andrew Murray incites us to take up our noble calling to be priests and intercessors for the world around us. He calls it “our circle” — the people that we influence and care for personally. Since each believer has his own individual circle, the world is in need of intercessors that can reach more of the lost and the hurting — the world needs you. To be a priest for the people is not only for the Church in general, but for your particular area of influence as well. I will try and sum up what Andrew Murray says of our duty.

    You are a light for the world; let us rejoice to be so.

    As every son of Aaron, so every member of Jesus’ body has a right to the priesthood. It is the highest privilege of a child of God, the mark of greatest nearness and likeness to Him. Every priest is ordained for men in things pertaining to God (Hebrews 5:1; see also Deuteronomy 10:8; Deuteronomy 21:5; Deuteronomy 33:10).

    In the Old Testament, the walk of the priesthood was in harmony with its work — as God is holy, so the priest was to be especially holy. This means not only separated from everything unclean, but holy unto God, being set apart and given up to God for His possession. Their life was to be one of total faith — they were to live on Him as well as for Him.

    All this is the emblem of what the character of the New Testament priest is to be. Our priestly power with God depends on our personal life and walk. We must prove that our consecration to be HOLY TO THE LORD (Exodus 28:36; Zechariah 14:20-21) is whole-hearted and entire. This marks the true priest, the man who only lives for God and his fellow man.

    Are you willing to offer yourself for this holy work? You know the surrender it demands — nothing less than the Christ-like giving up of all, no longer content to have salvation and just do work enough to keep warm and lively. Thoughts of unworthiness or unfitness need not restrain you. The Blood provides an infinite worthiness to make your prayers most acceptable; and the Spirit provides a divine fitness, teaching you to pray according to the will of God.

    You will not only join in the general prayers of the Church for the world, but will also be able in your own circle/sphere to take up your special work in prayer — as priests, to transact requests with God, to receive and know the answer, and so to bless in His Name.

    Come and be a priest, only priest, all priest. Seek now to walk before the Lord in the full consciousness that you have been set apart for the Holy Ministry of Intercession. This is the true blessedness of conformity to the image of God’s Son.

  • God Calls Us To Holiness

    We all know God is holy; He is totally set apart from everything else. There is no one holy like the Lord; there is no one besides You, O God (1 Samuel 2:2). His name is holy and awe-inspiring (Psalm 111:9). Exalt the Lord our God; bow in worship at His holy mountain, for the Lord our God is holy (Psalm 99:9). You are to regard only the Lord of Hosts as holy; only He should be feared; only He should be held in awe (Isaiah 8:13). The holy God [of the old and new Israel] is distinguished by righteousness (Isaiah 5:16).

    Only God can direct us to living holy.

    Jesus, too, is called holy: The Holy One (Luke 1:35); Holy and Righteous One (Acts 3:14); Holy Servant (Acts 4:27,30). Jesus is our High Priest, our Commander, our Role Model in this life of absolute surrender. For He is the kind of High Priest we need: holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens (Hebrews 7:26).

    In his book, The Pursuit of Holiness, Jeff Bridges points out a very intriguing point:

    Any farmer knows that unless he diligently pursues his responsibilities to plow, plant, fertilize and cultivate, he cannot expect a harvest.  Farming is a joint venture between God and the farmer.  The farmer cannot do what God must do, and God will not do what the farmer should do.  The pursuit of holiness is also a joint venture between God and the Christian.  God has made it possible for us to walk in holiness, but He has given us the responsibility of doing the walking.

    So we are to rely on His work in us to teach us how to walk in holiness and to live a holy life. And we do this to please Him because we owe Him so much gratitude and praise, and because we have surrendered our life to Him and He cannot accept any sinful thing. Our duty then is to follow the Holy Spirit’s leading and live a sanctified and holy life.

    As obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires of your former ignorance but, as the One who called you is holy, you also are to be holy in all your conduct (1 Peter 1:14-15). For this is God’s will, your sanctification (1 Thessalonians 4:3). You took off your former way of life, the old man that is corrupted by deceitful desires, and you are being renewed in the spirit of your minds; you put on the new man, the one created according to God’s likeness in righteousness and purity of the truth (Ephesians 4:22-24). For God has not called us to impurity, but to sanctification (1 Thessalonians 4:7).

    This is what the Lord God says: When I gather the house of Israel from the peoples where they are scattered and demonstrate My holiness through them in the sight of the nations (Ezekiel 28:25), when I bring them back from the peoples and gather them from the countries of their enemies, I will demonstrate My holiness through them in the sight of many nations (Ezekiel 39:27). They will honor My holiness and stand in awe of the God of Israel (Isaiah 29:23). I will show My holiness to those who are near Me (Leviticus 10:3).

    Pursue peace with everyone, and holiness — without it no one will see the Lord (Hebrews 12:14). Holiness for us is not an option, but a command.