Thoughts for Life: The Beauty of Holiness

James Cagle- The Bible says, “Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness” (Ps. 29:2; 1 Chron. 16:29; Ps. 96:9).

There’s something beautiful about holiness. Holiness is the most beautiful thing in the world and in Heaven. It’s beautiful in the way it came from God to man through His Son Jesus Christ. (Google image, Worship and praise)

This beauty comes to a person when they repent of their sins and trust Christ as their Savior. They have then been given beauty for ashes (Is. 61: 3). There would be no holiness in the world had it not been for Jesus Christ, the Holy Son of God, and the work of the Holy Spirit.

What’s beautiful about holiness is the way it beautifies the soul and life of those who possess it. Holiness is beautiful because it is a reflection of the life of Christ. And God desires the beauty of His Son Jesus to be seen in all His children.

Our text tells us that we are to worship God in the “beauty of holiness.” If something is beautiful, it’s desirable and accepted.

To be beautiful before God, and our worship to be accepted by Him, we must clothe ourselves with the holiness and beauty of Jesus Christ (Eph. 5: 26, 27). Jesus’ beauty is perfect because His holiness is perfect.

It is coming before God in worship and standing before Him in the beauty of Christ’s holiness that makes our worship acceptable to Him. And without Christ's holiness our worship is rejected.

The world gives attention to outer beauty which is as a flower that fades away. God gives attention to inner beauty which lasts for eternity.

God sees holiness as the beautiful thing it is, because it came about through a person who died to their own will in order to do His holy will, to honor and glorify Him, and to possess the same beauty and likeness of His Son Jesus Christ.

The Beauty of Holiness
James H. Cagle

Holy Hardships Hope and Humor by James Watkins

"I’ve become convinced that a) being conformed to the likeness to Christ is the essence of holiness and b) that holiness comes through allowing God’s Spirit to shape us into that likeness through hardships and heartaches."

Let's pray-

"Father, I thank You for helping me as I enlarge the place of my tent and strengthen my stakes. In You, there is hope for despair. In You, there is stability for turmoil. In You, there is prosperity for poverty. In You, there is health and healing for sickness. In You, there is peace for conflict, whether it is in a relationship, in my home, or in my land. In You, Lord Jesus is well-being for every area of life! Hallelujah! Thank You Holy Spirit for divinely orchestrating every aspect of my life! Jesus is Lord over my spirit, soul, and body, and over my relationships. Amen. Germine Copeland

311-315 one-line KJV Scriptures for those of you who want to learn one verse a day this week-

311- Ps. 25:1 "Unto, O LORD, do I lift up my soul."

312- 1 Cor. 8:3 "But if any man love God, the same is known of him."

313- Ps. 38:22 "Make haste to help me, O LORD my salvation."

314- Prov. 27:9 "Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel."

315- 1 Cor. 16:23 "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you."

Today's quotes-

~ Rich Carmicheal- The Lord has chosen us to be holy (Eph. 1:4), He calls us to be holy (1 Thess. 4:7) and He commands us to be holy (1 Pet. 1:16). His will is that we be holy and He is pleased when we live a holy life (1 Thess. 4:1-3). Through holiness we show reverence for Him (2 Cor. 7:1), we bring glory to Him (2 Thess. 1:10) and we share in His glory (2 Thess. 2:13-14). If we reject the call to holiness, we are in actuality rejecting Him (1 Thess. 4:8).

~ Leighton Ford- "The Second Coming of Christ is a spur and a motivation to holiness, to evangelism and to obedience. The Scripture ways, 'Abide in Him that when He comes we may . . . not be ashamed; (1 John 2:28). As Martin Luther said of himself, 'We are to believe and live and love and work as though Jesus Christ died yesterday, rose today, and is coming again tomorrow.' "

Words of wisdom-

~ We can have confidence in the Lord's ability to see us. His Love draws us to Him. He sees us for who we are and He knows our doubts and fears. When we find our thinking isn't positive, but negative, may we remember Jesus loves us unconditionally and invites us to believe in Who He is, and in His ability to help us gain positive thoughts again.

Words from God the Father

By Dave Roberson Ministries

This Is My Love for You

"I never tire of encouraging you. I never tire of helping you. My nature is revealed in this, for I am the One who gave you your Helper. This is My love for you. I never grow weary of your heart trying to grasp the understanding of things. I never grow weary of you reaching for Me over and over again for the same things. This is My fellowship with you—I never refuse you, for if you come to Me, I am there for you. I am patient and kind and merciful, more than you would ever have words to describe, for My love is limitless—it has no end."

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