Clearance

Before going into highly classified areas of our government or before having access to highly classified documents, we must pass governmental standards for clearance. Before entering secured areas of some business operations, we will need to pass their qualifications for access. Before standing before our holy God, we must pass His qualification, which is holiness. None of us meets this standard in and of ourselves.

I Samuel 6;20 says, “Who is able to stand before the LORD, this holy God?” When we begin to lose our awe of God, we begin to lose understanding of His power. It is only through the shed blood of His Son that we are made holy and able to stand before this holy God.

Choosing Stones

When our grandson was younger, he took an interest in stones. Whether he was on an active search for stones or just casually walking around, a stone would catch his eye and he would take it home and give it a place of honor. To be honest, many of his precious stones looked ordinary and valueless to me, but he gave them value.

I Peter 2:4-5 says, “As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” Some stones appear ordinary, lifeless, and useless. When we come to Jesus, however, He transforms us into living stones that offer spiritual sacrifices which are acceptable to God. He gives us value by calling us chosen and precious in His sight.

Full Cleaning

Let’s assume that you want to do spring cleaning of your house. You may want to start with the dirtiest room or the disgusting bathroom. But eventually, you will probably get to every room and do the deep cleaning that a spring cleaning deserves. Leaving one room dirty and behind locked doors so that no one can see that mess, is most likely not in your spring cleaning agenda.

II Corinthians 7:1 says, “Since we have these promises, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.” Holiness involves purification of all aspects of life. We should seek purity in our spirits, affecting our inward thoughts and desires. We must ask God to awaken our spirits by the Holy Spirit so that we can surrender to His purifying work in us.

News Worth Hearing

What news do you eagerly look forward to receiving? Perhaps, it is good personal news or good news from family. Maybe, you look forward to positive business news. Sometimes, we anxiously await global news. But what is the most important news that we all need to hear and receive?

Psalm 96:3-4 says, “Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples! For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; he is to be feared above all gods.” The one news story that the world needs to hear more than anything else is the truth that God is great and does marvelous works among all peoples.

Trivial Pursuit

Several years ago, a board game called Trivial Pursuit was popular. It involved answering trivia questions. Unfortunately, we can spend our time and energy focusing on trivial pursuits. Things like fame and wealth satisfy us in the short term but quickly fade away or are taken from us.

Matthew 6:19-21 says, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” We can pursue fame and material wealth on earth, but all these things are temporary and have no lasting value. Instead, we should pursue godliness and God’s glory, which will last for eternity.