[Tuesday's Devotional] - Be Holy

Be Holy Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes, To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be his holy people, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ – their Lord and ours: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 1Corinthians 1:1-3 [NIV] Paul addresses this letter to those in Corinth who have been 'sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be his holy people' – 'cleaned up by Jesus and set apart for a God-filled life', as the Message Bible paraphrases it.  He extends that to include all who have called out to Jesus.  We, if we have called on the Name of Jesus, have been cleaned up by Jesus and have been set apart for a God filled life – this is a fact, regardless of how we feel. Sometimes (actually a lot of the time) I don't feel very holy, so I need to hold tight to this promise; I am a child of God, I am a member of Gods family. In his book, Lifetime Guarantee, Billy Graham uses the analogy of an Oak tree: "As an Oak Sapling grows it does not get Oakier.  An Oak is an Oak.  It simply matures into what it is, a full-grown oak tree.  It's the same with us.  We are the holy sons of God.  We don't get holier, more accepted more justified, more forgiven.  We simply experientially "life out" who and what we already are.  It's not a "from-to" situation with us.  We are a holy people. Now let's get on with the acting like who we are." May all the gifts and benefits that come from God our Father, and the Master, Jesus Christ, be yours.  1Corinthians 1:3 [MSG] Lord help us to take possession of the holy life you have given us. Guy Mowbray   Twitter Website Copyright © 2017 St. Matthew & St. Oswald's Church, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email as a subscriber to the Daily Devotionals Our mailing address is: St. Matthew & St. Oswald's Church 1a New Street Rugby, Warwickshire CV22 7BE United Kingdom Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list Want to be added to our mailing list? - sign up here!