Our God is a holy God and requires that we regard him as holy and glorify him (Lev 10:3). His priests were to be holy to God (Lev 21:6) and his people are called to be holy as he is holy (Lev 11:44).

The latter scripture is quoted by the apostle Peter in his first epistle (1 Peter 1:16). In verse 15 of that chapter he writes: “But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation” (KJV). We know that Jesus is holiness (Acts 3:14). In 2 Corinthians 7:1 Paul directs us to: "cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God".

Holiness should be a characteristic of the Christian or saint. It means to be set apart, sanctified, pure, clean. It is something we grow in as we allow the word to impact, convict and change us (Rom 12:2) and as we allow the Holy Spirit to work in us and develop his fruit or character (Gal 5:22-23).

God is holy and as we grow in holiness, we draw closer to him (James 4:7,8) allowing his life to flow through us. "Be holy; for I am holy" is a process, a journey, but a beautiful one.

"Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee" (Isa 60:1; KJV). God's light brings his glory. The Hebrew word for glory used here is chabod which means heavy, splendor and magnificence among other things. We know that when the glory filled the temple or the tabernacle in the Old Testament, the ministers couldn't stand. That is because the glory of God is the presence of God.

Another interesting verse to do with light is Malachi 4:2, which says that: “the Sun of righteousness will arise with healing in his wings”. Obviously, the sun speaks of light but what a picture we have of Jesus with healing coming out of all the sunbeams.

In the New Testament we can find many references to light as Jesus calls himself: “the light of the world” (John 8:12) and he encourages us to walk in the light. I find Ephesians 5:9 very interesting; it says that: the “fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth". In that verse many Bible translators use light instead of Spirit.

The more time we spend in the "light" (God's presence and his word) the more these qualities will be formed in us.

A BLOG by Norman and Jean Rawlings, authors of the book: “On the Way: Basic Christian Training”. Check out our web site for information on our book and more encouraging Bible based blogs. Fill out the: “contact us page” on our website and in the comments section REQUEST A FREE COPY OF A CHAPTER FROM OUR BOOK, click here: www.onthewayinlove.com    

 “Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are escaped. Our help is in the name of the Lord” (Ps 124:7-8a; KJV). “Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith” (Heb 12:1-2).

As children of God we have been removed from under the power of satan and conveyed into the kingdom of God (Col 1:13). We have escaped from the fowlers snare but satan still tries to ensnare us with sin (1 Peter 5:8). Matthew tells us that if we seek first God’s kingdom all the blessings of God will be ours (Matt 6:33).

How do we lay aside those sins that hold us back, how do we pant and thirst after God (Ps 42:1-2); seeking His kingdom? Well, Johns gospel tells us that God’s word is truth and the truth will make us free (John 8:32). Receiving the freedom and blessings we have in Christ is no more complicated than spending time in his word and believing that the truth can work in our lives and bring freedom and blessings. “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection” (Phil 3:10).

So, rest in the Lord today, in his word and wait patiently for him today (Ps 37:7), cast your cares on him (1 Peter 5:7) and allow him to work in your life.

A BLOG by Norman and Jean Rawlings, authors of the book: “On the Way: Basic Christian Training”. Check out our web site for information on our book and more encouraging Bible based blogs. Fill out the: “contact us page” on our website and in the comments section REQUEST A FREE COPY OF A CHAPTER FROM OUR BOOK, click here: www.onthewayinlove.com    

In Numbers 13:30 (KJV) we read what Caleb reported to Moses about the land of Canaan. He said: "Let us go up at once and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it". However, in verse 31 we read what 10 of the other spies said: "we be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we".

This is very interesting because they had all seen the same giants; the latter group were filled with fear but Caleb and also Joshua saw things differently. Caleb was making a declaration of faith (trusting God to give them the victory) but the other group just went by what they saw in the natural. As you may know this delayed taking possession of Canaan for 40 year!

Caleb was not denying the strength of the giants but he put God into the equation and this produced faith. He actually had to exercise faith AND patience during his 40-year wait (Heb 6:12, 10:36). In 2 Corinthians 5:7 it says we walk by faith not by what we see; that's what faith is all about. If you are facing giant sized problems in your life today then make a declaration like Caleb did and believe that through Christ you are more than a conqueror (Rom 8:37).

A BLOG by Norman and Jean Rawlings, authors of the book: “On the Way: Basic Christian Training”. Check out our web site for information on our book and more encouraging Bible based blogs. Fill out the: “contact us page” on our website and in the comments section REQUEST A FREE COPY OF A CHAPTER FROM OUR BOOK, click here: www.onthewayinlove.com    

 When we were born again our spirit was made new (John 3:3-7) but we need to bring our body under (1 Cor 9:27) and renew our minds (Rom 12:2). Our minds have had years under the influence of satan and his worldly system that we live in and we need to change our thinking over to God’s influence and ways.

I was looking at Philippians 4:8 (KJV) and the things God says we should meditate on to clean up our minds: “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things”.

I checked out some of the words from the Greek. Well, true means true and you can’t get closer to the truth than in God’s word. Noble has the sense of something that demands respect. Something that is just, is innocent or even holy. To be pure is to be morally faultless or without blemish. To be lovely is to be lovely. Words of good report are words that lack any negativity or ill report. Virtue, speaks of moral excellence and goodness. God is praiseworthy, so that sets a standard right there. Paul says meditate on these things.

Obviously, God’s word is where our thoughts need to be and we need to train our minds to think along God’s pattern in all our daily interactions and thought processes. The results will be peace (Phil 4:7). Try it you will see results, guaranteed. 

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A BLOG by Norman and Jean Rawlings, authors of the book: “On the Way: Basic Christian Training”. Check out our web site for information on our book and more encouraging Bible based blogs. Fill out the: “contact us page” on our website and in the comments section REQUEST A FREE COPY OF A CHAPTER FROM OUR BOOK, click here: www.onthewayinlove.com