Holiness unto the Lord

Scripture:  Luke 11:24-26:   24 “When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and finding none it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ 25 And when it comes, it finds the house swept and put in order. 26 Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there. And the last state of that person is worse than the first.”

​Observations:  Today’s scripture in Genesis covered the deceptions of Jacob stealing his brother Esau’s blessing, though Rebekah knew that God had told her the younger would rule over the older child, so this was of God.  Then there was the story of Jacob’s Ladder where he made a promise to worship God if he kept him safe (more like a covenant). Psalm 4 and Luke 11 made my heart dwell on the concept of prayer.  Especially Luke 11:13: “13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!””  I thought at first that is what I was to apply since it seems to go with my sermon tomorrow, but the above passage seemed to keep coming back to me.

Application:  Nine times in Scripture it tells us to be holy as God is holy.  Hebrews 12:14 says: “Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.”  2 Corinthians 7:1 reads: “Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.”  Our holiness comes from Jesus, so we must stay in right relationship with Jesus.  Many believe that you cannot lose your salvation, and I can find the Scriptures where they find that claim.   Yet, when I read today’s Scripture, I realize that though Jesus can expel an unclean spirit of sin from our lives, and make us his own, if we don’t nurture that relationship with Jesus, that sinfulness can overtake us again, and it can get worse than it was at first.  That is why Jesus, so often told the people he healed, or saved from stoning in one case, to go and sin no more.   The same people who believe you cannot lose your salvation believe it is impossible to be sinless, yet Jesus told people to ‘go and sin no more’.  Why would Jesus say: “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew 5:48)  In Romans 6:22, Paul gave good advice: “But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.”

Prayer:  Our Father, Who art in Heaven, hallowed by Your Name.  Dear Holy Father, purify us of all sin.  Teach us to live a pure life. Keep us from temptation. We want the good gift of the Holy Spirit to be our guide, and our counselor.  We want to see you Lord.  Make us holy.  Amen

Tomorrow's reading:  Genesis 29-30: Luke 12