GOD IS HOLY

International Bible Baptist Church

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GOD IS HOLY

Day 168

June 17, 2024 • Leviticus 19:2

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Leviticus 19:2

Ye shall be holy: for I the Lord your God am holy..

God is holy. His holiness separates him completely from sin. The Bible tells us that we must be holy. But how can we be holy when we still have our sinful nature?

Some people would have us think that we must try really hard, live a certain way or do or not do certain things, and then we can be classified as “holy.” However, to try to attain holiness is an impossible task. Instead, the Bible tells us that we become holy in God’s eyes because of what Christ has done. “To them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:” (1 Corinthians 1:2). “According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:” (Ephesians 1:4). “In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:” (Colossians 1:22). “Because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:” (2 Thessalonians 2:13).

We mustn’t get caught up in thinking that we must work hard to be holy. God has made us holy through Christ.

GOD’S PROMISE TO ME:

• I am perfectly holy.

• Everything I do is holy.

• You are already holy in my eyes because of your faith in Christ.

• I will help you live a holy life.

MY PRAYER TO GOD:

Thank you, Lord, for your holiness. You are perfect! That fact gives me great peace. I choose to trust that you already see me as holy and that your work in my life will help me mature in holiness. Amen.

THE HOLY SPIRIT GUARANTEES FUTURE PROMISES

June 25, 2024 • Ephesians 1:13–14

Ephesians 1:13-14 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. Who are the “you also” to whom Paul referred? This meant all non-Jews who had become believers. Christ came to die for everyone—not just Jews, but Gentiles too. God had promised that through one of Abraham’s descendants, “and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.” (Genesis 12:3). Jesus fulfilled that promise when he opened the way of salvation to everyone. When we believe the Good News, God saves us. In that moment God gives us his Holy Spirit, who is like a security deposit. The fact that we have the Holy Spirit means that all the rest of God’s promises will come true. God’s promises about eternity are as certain as our salvation. There is no need to doubt what God says. While we may not understand everything in our lives or even agree on how the future will play out, we can agree that Jesus is coming back to take us to heaven to be with him forever. We can have confidence in God’s promises for the future. The Holy Spirit testifies daily to the fact that all of God’s promises will come true “to the praise of his glory.” GOD’S PROMISE TO ME: • I gave you my Spirit as a guarantee that I will give you everything else I promised. • You can be confident in all of my promises for the future. MY PRAYER TO GOD: God, thank you for giving me your Holy Spirit and for identifying me as your child. Thank you for the glorious future you have in store for me. Amen.

GOD’S LOVE ENDURES FOREVER

June 24, 2024 • Psalm 136:1

Psalm 136:1 O give thanks unto the Lord ; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. Every other line in Psalm 136 has the words, “His love endures forever.” As the psalmist briefly recites parts of Israel’s history, each act is followed by these words. God showed his love in creation (136:1-9); in bringing his people out of Egypt (136:10-15), in protecting them in the wilderness (136:16-22) and in providing for them (136:23-26). When you look back over your life, what choices, changes, trials or great joys come to mind? Perhaps you didn’t always sense God’s love, but the perspective of time shows that God’s faithful love was in each situation. That means that the situations of today are bound up in God’s faithful love as well. You can trust him today because you have experienced his loving hand in the past. Make a list of key times across the span of your life. Then, after each, write “His love endures forever.” God is at work. His love endures forever. GOD’S PROMISE TO ME: • My faithful love for you endures forever. MY PRAYER TO GOD: Nothing can stop you from loving me, Lord. Your love works through every situation today just as your faithful love carried your people Israel. I can trust your love today, tomorrow and for the rest of my life. Thank you that your love endures forever. Amen.

GOD’S LOVE NEVER FAILS

June 23, 2024 • Psalm 103:11–12, Psalm 103:8–9

Psalm 103:8-9,11-12 The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. God is full of unfailing love. It is seen in his mercy and grace toward us. Just as he got angry with his people the Israelites, so he gets angry with us today when we turn away from him. Yet he is slow to anger and does not remain angry forever. The psalmist knew that God was merciful and forgiving. God’s love is as high as the heavens and his forgiveness is boundless. Only a God so loving would not punish us as we deserve but instead take our sins and remove them as far as the east is from the west. In other words, our sins are completely separated from us and are remembered no more. God’s love never falters or fails. We may make him angry; we may face punishment, but we can always count on his forgiveness, mercy and love. Even in his anger God does not stop loving us. GOD’S PROMISE TO ME • I am merciful, gracious, slow to anger and full of unfailing love. • My love for you is greater than the height of the heavens. • I take your rebellious acts and remove them as far as the east is from the west. MY PRAYER TO GOD: Thank you for your love and mercy, Lord. Even when I am rebellious, I can return to you and find forgiveness and love. Your love is greater than I can comprehend. Amen.