April 16th, 2021
Real Life Devotional Series “Hunger” – Week 1 - Friday – Shirley Davis
Special Relationship with God
2 Corinthians 7:1 (NLT)
"Because we have these promises, dear friends, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that can defile our body or spirit. And let us work toward complete holiness because we fear God."
In this verse, Paul gives us some simple, straightforward advice about holiness; yet we certainly don't want to be trying to develop holiness just because we are afraid we won't make it to Heaven! It is something we should desire because of our love and reverence for God.
However, to understand this verse, we must read the preceding verses in chapter 6, where God is quoted giving us specific promises: 2 Corinthians 6:16b-18 “I will live in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people, therefore, come out from among unbelievers, and separate yourselves from them, says the LORD. Don’t touch their filthy things, and I will welcome you. And I will be your Father, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the LORD Almighty." (NLT)
God wants a special relationship with us, and for that, we must be "separate" or even "stand out as different" from unbelievers. If we back up even further to the beginning of chapter 6, we read in the 1st verse: "As God’s partners, we beg you not to accept this marvelous gift of God’s kindness and then ignore it." Paul shares some of the trials and tribulations that come as a result of living in a way that is working toward holiness. I encourage you to read the whole of this short chapter as it indeed illustrates a hunger for holiness. He writes encouragingly that though it is far from easy, "our hearts ache, but we always have joy. We are poor, but we give spiritual riches to others. We own nothing and yet we have everything." (v.10)
Special Relationship with God
2 Corinthians 7:1 (NLT)
"Because we have these promises, dear friends, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that can defile our body or spirit. And let us work toward complete holiness because we fear God."
In this verse, Paul gives us some simple, straightforward advice about holiness; yet we certainly don't want to be trying to develop holiness just because we are afraid we won't make it to Heaven! It is something we should desire because of our love and reverence for God.
However, to understand this verse, we must read the preceding verses in chapter 6, where God is quoted giving us specific promises: 2 Corinthians 6:16b-18 “I will live in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people, therefore, come out from among unbelievers, and separate yourselves from them, says the LORD. Don’t touch their filthy things, and I will welcome you. And I will be your Father, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the LORD Almighty." (NLT)
God wants a special relationship with us, and for that, we must be "separate" or even "stand out as different" from unbelievers. If we back up even further to the beginning of chapter 6, we read in the 1st verse: "As God’s partners, we beg you not to accept this marvelous gift of God’s kindness and then ignore it." Paul shares some of the trials and tribulations that come as a result of living in a way that is working toward holiness. I encourage you to read the whole of this short chapter as it indeed illustrates a hunger for holiness. He writes encouragingly that though it is far from easy, "our hearts ache, but we always have joy. We are poor, but we give spiritual riches to others. We own nothing and yet we have everything." (v.10)
Posted in Hunger
Recent
Archive
2024
January
New Year, Fresh StartA Good Plan for the New YearCall on MeHope Has a NameHolidays in Rear ViewHolinessHow to Have our Mind TransformedNew Year, New YouA Pattern of RenewalVictory in JesusFear Knot? Fear Not.Seek the LORDBetterWhere to Place your TrustRadical GraceGenerosity God's WayThe Poor and NeedyThe Open Hand ConceptA Need that Burdens your HeartHow's Your Heart?Who Are You?Testing in the Wilderness
February
CallingDon't HideWhere You AreJust the Two of UsInvesting in the Kingdom of GodThe Golden RuleAgainst the GrainUnexplainable JoyThe Power of God's WordFollow MeThe God of the ImpossibleOut on a LimbWe All Face ItTrue JusticeGatherGood SoilDon't Put God in a BoxBe BraveCulture CheckFeed His Sheep. Love His People.Jesus Revealed
March
Jesus in His GloryNot QuantityHow Much God Loves ChildrenWhere Two or Three are GatheredLike Little ChildrenFocusAmazing GraceBeing Confronted By JesusKingdom FruitWedding AttireCome with a Hungry HeartLive and Lead Like HimTough LoveBe on your GuardKeep WatchTalentsSlow DownBeing Led by the SpiritKingdom WatchThey Are Us. We Are Them.Jesus Gave His All For UsHe is Risen, Indeed
April
The Most Important Question Ever AskedExchanging Death for a Better LifeThe Space BetweenHe's got the KeysI want to know HimJoy of the LordNeverthelessFullness of JoyFavorites"Try it, you'll like it."He Created MeHe Chose to Die for MeGod's Love for UsAn Eternal LoveNothing will SeparateThe Salt ShakerThe Word Brings HopeMeditate on God's WordA Well Lit PathEverything Wears OutEnjoy itModeration found in Contentment
Categories
Tags
no tags
No Comments