The halfbaked Bard

Be holy, because I am holy. 1 Pet:1:16 Quoting from Lev:11:44, it is an admonition that seems quiet impossible. As God is holy. How do we do it? 1 Pet:1:13-25 tells both about my doing and the Lord's doing regarding this. - Prepare your minds for action - Be self controlled - Do not conform to the evil desires - Be holy - Love one another deeply But it also says about the Lord's part in this. Infact His effort is more in this. - Grace - Saved by the precious blood of Christ the Lamb - You have been born again not of perishable seed but imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. Your striving will never make you holy. Because all your righteous deeds are like filthy rags. Isa:64:6. By grace you have been made holy and given a holy standing before the Father by the precious act on the cross, if I believe. Without this act, there is no scope of your holiness. Yet because Isa:64:6 is true, do I deter myself from striving? Not at all. Infact I should stri...

Jer:31:40 The entire area...... will be holy to the Lord.  The magnitude of the promise is huge. That I will understand only if I have a look at the backdrop.  A holy God.  An impeccable persona.  Who hates sin to the core.  Abhors. Yet He loves me.  The one who is a sinner. He loves me, who is indulged in sin.  Helpless I look unto Him.  But still reveling in that mire.  Partly my nature. Partly my choice.  Or fully both. To be precise.  He comes down Into that swamp which nauseates Him.  To the very thing that He disgusts.  He humbled. He obeyed. He loved.  Bore all the consequences Bled unto death to save me.  To rescue me.  Dirty as I am, He washes me.  By His blood He cleanses me.  Declares me righteous.  Gives me a clean white robe.  Spotless.  Blemishless. Presents me before the Father.  Who sees me through the Son.  The Spirit enables me further.  A...

Isa:35:8 A highway along the desert A highway of holiness. Where no evil minded people will travel Where no filth or dirt will accumulate.  Where no fools will trod upon Only for those who walk in God's ways A pavement from their own filtg they have cut When they set themselves apart.  That gully leads to the highway of holiness A privilege. Not something which they deserved A gift from God To stay holy just as He is holy.  Safe; no evil. No lions lurking. No ferocious beasts A highway which leads to the city of God To God Himself. Through the desert it goes But as it reaches the city, it is lush green all around A river that flows from the city waters it From a dry and parched land To lush green surrounds it Highway of holiness.  Only the redeemed will walk on it The ones called before the foundation of earth was laid Those who have been ransomed.  Bought by the blood of the lamb.  No more sorrow; no more mourning To the city of everlasting joy...

Set apart. Betrothed. Engaged  I as a child of God, am set apart for God - yes for blessing, honour, glory, power, inheritance, relationship as heir of God. All of these are true  But most importantly - I am set apart for my Lord as holy (Ezra:8:28). Just like the silver and gold in the temple. Just like the utensils there. Just like the Levitical priests  I am set apart to be holy; just as my Father in heaven is holy.  How serious am I? How can I neglect this attribute of God and then seek the others? The very same attribute which He couldn't compromise on;but He gave His own life to redeem me. The worldly system is corrupted and fully against this. Anything of the world is not with Him and then anyone who loves and follows this system, the love of the Father is not in Him. The world's ways and God's kingdom values do not go hand in hand  The deeds that I do. The words that I speak. The desires of my heart  The intentions and motives behind eve...