1 Peter 1:15-16

Yesterday, I had a conversation with my oldest, Britton, and we were listening to a song on the way home on the radio and she asked if that was this Christian song.

Which is a great question. It allowed me to kind of think about it and how do I want to answer this question.

And I answered it by saying, let's not think about things in just Christian music or Christian books or Christian bookstore or Christian t-shirts or Christian clothing kind of idea.

But let's think about the lyrics and do the lyrics move you to think of God or not.

And in that case, I pushed my 8-year-old, soon to be 9-year-old, to think and use her brain a little bit and not just claim something to be Christian music or Christian TV or Christian movie or whatever.

And so my question this morning kind of got me thinking was, is that the idea of holiness that we should believe?

Where we have our Christian music that we listen to and we have our Christian school we go to and we have our Christian bookstore that we shop in.

And we have our Christian t-shirts that we wear.

And so we're set apart based on the definition of holiness.

If you don't know, that's what holiness means.

We're set apart and we kind of go down this road of this is where we're going to stay.

We're going to stay within the boundaries of the Christian title.

Is that the idea of holiness that we should believe?

I don't think so.

I don't think that that biblically that that lines up with how we should view holiness.

How we should pursue a specific way of living.

Imagine for a moment that we're up in an airplane really, really, really high.

And we look down and we're so high that a forest doesn't look like little individual trees or you can't see the definition of the trees.

It's just a green mass on the land below you.

Now, one can assume, well, that's a forest.

But you can also assume, well, it's green and kind of, well, that's a body of water.

That could be water from this height.

We're not really sure.

And just to claim that it's water or claim that it's something without really knowing what it is, without viewing it on a map and saying, well, that's Cherokee Forest.

That's the National Reserve or whatever.

We cheapen and make a quick assumption by saying, well, that's just water.

Yeah, it looks like water.

That's water.

And I think what we've done with holiness, if we believe that that's how we should pursue holiness is by separating ourselves completely,

then we cheapen that idea and make an assumption that that's what holiness is.

So this morning, I want to bring the plane in a little bit.

I want to look at the forest and I want to see the trees.

I want to see the animals crawling on the ground.

I want to see the different types of trees and see what this holiness really does look like for you and I.

Because when we read Scripture and we have familiar verses and we know just by being a Christian that, well, if God is holy, then we are to be holy.

You guys and all of us in this room would believe, yes.

But what does that mean?

How does that affect the way we live?

How does that affect how we walk out this life?

Or is it just a cheap assumption?

Yes.

I believe that we should be holy.

So that's my goal this morning, to bring that plane down a little bit for us so we can kind of see some details of the forest.

So in 1 Peter 1, we're going to read four verses starting in verse 13.

It says,

Therefore,

Therefore, preparing your minds for action and being sober-minded sets your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance.

But as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct.

Since it is written, you shall be holy, for I am holy.

Let's pray together.

Father, I ask for your grace this morning to speak to us clearly.

God, I ask that words that come from my mouth will be true words.

And that all of us in here, including me, would hear from you this morning.

God, I pray that you would help us in the hearing of your word, but also in the action to follow, in the obedience to follow whatever you have laid out for us to do.

Help us.

We cannot do it apart from you.

We beg and we ask in Jesus' name.

Amen.

Amen.

So, we're going to start from verse 16 and work our way back to verse 13.

That's the plan.

Verse 15 and 16 says,

But as he who called you is holy, you will also be holy in all your conduct.

Since it is written, you shall be holy, for I am holy.

So what does God being holy mean?

What does the holiness of God actually mean?

Well, as I mentioned a few minutes ago, the definition is to be set apart.

So how does God become set apart?

How do we set God apart?

Well, here's how.

God is utterly unique.

He is in a class all to himself.

There is no one like him.

No one compares.

He is unequaled.

He is without beginning and without end.

And he has no need for improvement.

He is perfect.

He always is and always will be and always was perfect God.

So, this is who God is.

God is the source of holiness.

God is the author of holiness.

He is holy, perfect, sinless God.

Now, let's think about this for a minute.

One of the Christian terms that we read and we throw out there is the glory of God.

What is the glory of God?

Well, the glory of God is that outward expression of God's holiness.

So, let me help you.

You could say that the sun, the light is the glory of God.

The light that we get from the sun is the glory of God.

The fire is the holiness.

It's the root of that source, of the source of light.

So, just kind of give you a little bit of perspective there.

So, this is who God is.

He is without comparison.

Perfect, holy, sinless.

The source.

He is the sun that our life should revolve around.

So, in verse 15 and 16 in 1 Peter, we have,

Be holy for I am holy.

Now, a little bit of context here for 1 Peter.

And we studied this a few summers ago or a couple years ago.

1 Peter, Peter writes this letter to the churches in Asia Minor,

which would be modern day Turkey.

Ephesus would have been in this area.

And he's writing to them and he's giving them kind of a warning,

giving a heads up that persecution is headed their way.

Peter is writing from Rome.

He's getting a lot of persecution in Rome

and he sees the Roman Empire moving that direction.

And so, he's writing this to the Christians there,

the churches in Asia Minor,

telling them there's persecution coming

and this is how you should stand firm in it.

This is how you should live because of what's coming your way.

And so, we read this.

And we read our text this morning

and we've got some practical things.

We've got God being holy.

So, I'm hoping to kind of pull all that in together for us,

even with the context of who Peter is writing to.

So, verse 15 and 16,

Be holy for I am holy.

Be holy because God is holy.

We as Christians are to be holy.

Everybody in here who is a Christian,

who has read the Bible,

would shake your head yes to that.

Yes.

So, how can we be holy?

How is it that we can live and be set apart

based on the definition of who God is?

Well, one way, and the main way,

is that we are imitators of God.

We imitate God.

Now, this shouldn't surprise any of you.

If you're a Christian,

your name claims that you're little Christ's.

You are little Christ's.

You're Christians.

We bear His name.

So, it should not surprise us that we are to be imitators.

But what it does mean here

is that our lives should revolve around God.

As the earth revolves around the sun,

our lives should revolve around God.

Meaning, that our lives are consumed with God.

Our lives are all about God.

Our lives are formed by God.

We are called by God,

and we are set apart by God.

We are to imitate God's holiness.

The question is, how?

How do we do that then?

Where is the practical?

So, let's bring this plane in a little bit more.

So, how?

Well, based on our text,

the first thing we need to do

is that we need to admit

God has called us out of darkness into light.

Look at verse 15.

It says,

But as He who called you is holy,

you will also be holy in all your conduct.

Now,

I chose this verb,

admit,

on purpose.

That we need to admit

that God has called us out of darkness.

We must admit

that it was God's act on our lives.

And nothing in us that caused God to call us,

or that even we called on Him.

Colossians 1,

13 and 14 says that

He has delivered us

from the domain of darkness

and transferred us

to the kingdom of His beloved Son,

in whom we have redemption,

the forgiveness of sins.

So, if you caught it there,

He has, being God,

delivered us from the domain of darkness.

He has delivered us,

He's pulled us out,

and He has transferred us

to the kingdom of His beloved Son.

God's action on our lives.

Basic gospel truth,

but very important.

Romans 3,

Colossians 2,

Colossians 1,

what we just read,

tells us that we are dead

in our trespasses and sins.

For the wages of sin is death.

For all have sinned

and fallen short of the glory of God.

We have nothing in us

that has deserved or earned God's favor.

It is God's grace to us

to bestow on us.

God's favor to give us life

and to pull us from darkness into light.

So, when we admit this truth,

when we admit that God has called us

out of darkness into light,

then we accept that truth.

Then we acknowledge that truth.

And when we accept,

we are humbled.

We are moved to humility

because of that grace

and that mercy that He has shown us.

In James 4, verse 6,

James 4:6

it says,

God opposes the proud,

but gives grace to the humble.

Verse 10 of that same chapter

in James 4,

Humble yourself before the Lord

and He will exalt you.

Humility is important for the Christian.

We must acknowledge

the grace and the mercy

that we have been shown.

We live in light of that.

We love other people

in light of that.

We make decisions in light of that.

Not because we have earned it,

but because He has shown us

grace and favor.

In Isaiah chapter 6,

Isaiah 6 · chapter mention

Isaiah writes and tells the story

of being in the throne room of God.

And Isaiah is face to face with God.

Face to face in the same room

with His holiness and His righteousness.

God perfect without comparison.

And what is Isaiah moved to?

Immediately to his knees to worship.

And he says,

woe is me,

for I am a sinner.

Humility will and can lead

to holiness for us

when we acknowledge and we admit

that God,

it is God on our lives

delivering us

and as Colossians said,

transferring us

from darkness into light.

So we've got to admit,

we've got to admit

that God has called us

out of darkness into light.

But we also have to admit

as Christians

that we are children of God.

As we bear His name,

little Christ,

we are children of God.

Look at verse 14 of 1 Peter.

It says,

as obedient children,

do not be conformed

to the passions

of your former ignorance.

Now,

to understand

that we are children of God

is important.

It's important because

it shows that God

has changed us

from the inside out.

Now,

I have four kids

and my four kids

are always going to be

my kids.

I can't change the fact.

Now,

legally,

sure,

we can make an argument.

But blood-wise,

they're always going to have

my blood in them.

They're always going to be

mine.

I can't do anything

about that.

But God,

God can change

a heart

and make it His.

God can change

a person

and transfer them

from darkness

into light

to make them

a child of wrath,

as Ephesians 2 says,

to a child

born

son or daughter

of the King.

Turn to Ephesians 2,

as I just kind of

mentioned.

Ephesians 2.

If you love the Gospel,

you believe the Gospel,

then you are familiar

with Ephesians 2,

I hope.

Ephesians 2.

Ephesians 2.

Starting in verse 1,

it says,

And you were dead

in the trespasses

and sins

in which you once walked,

following the course

of this world,

following the prince

of the power of the air,

the spirit

that is now at work

in the sons of disobedience,

among whom

we all once lived

in the passions

of our flesh,

carrying out

the desires

of the body

and the mind,

and were by nature

children of wrath

like the rest

of mankind.

But God,

being rich in mercy

because of the great love

with which he loved us,

even when we were dead

in our trespasses,

made us alive

together with Christ.

By grace,

you have been saved.

And raised us up with him

and seated us with him

in the heavenly places

in Christ Jesus,

so that in the coming age

he might show

the immeasurable riches

of his grace

and kindness toward us

in Christ Jesus.

So not only has he taken us

from darkness

into light,

we were dead

and now alive,

we were children of wrath

and now we're children

of the King.

This is important

because it is God

who has made that change

in us.

We can't make that change.

We can't do it.

Jesus says

in one of the Gospels,

and I apologize

because I could not find it

this morning,

but it's true,

I promise.

He talks about

how an earthly father,

when a son asks for bread,

will not give him a stone.

And he says,

how much greater

will your heavenly father

then provide for you?

I will provide for my kids

as much to the end

of my ability,

but how much greater

will that heavenly father,

our heavenly father,

as Christians,

children of God,

provide for us,

care for us,

love us,

nurture us.

This is who

our heavenly father is.

And we are children

children of this king.

So with a heart change

then,

we will not be conformed,

back to 1 Peter 1,

we will not be conformed

to the passions

of our former ignorance.

A new heart

means new passions

and new desires.

A new heart

means that those passions

and those desires

lead to holiness,

not to

fill in the blank,

sin.

A new heart

means that

our want-tos

change.

We want to

pursue holiness.

We want to

honor God.

We want to

love Jesus.

We want to

share the gospel.

We want to live

in such a way

this passion,

this desire,

has no limits

before Christ.

Why do you think

the commandment says

do not covenant

another man's wife?

There are no limits

to the passion

and the desires.

Somebody else's stuff.

There are no limits

to that.

It's whatever

fulfills that hunger

in us.

Well,

when our heart

is changed,

when we become

children of God,

those desires

change and those

passions are

fulfilled with

only one thing

and that is God.

That is His holiness

and that is Him

Himself.

When our hearts

are changed,

we will not

desire the gift.

We'll enjoy the gift,

but we won't

desire the gift.

We will desire

the giver of the gift

who is God.

We'll desire

what He gives us

and we'll look

for opportunities

and situations

and things we can do

with that item,

with that gift

that will bring honor

and glory to Him

and not

fulfillment

for us.

That's an example

of the change

in us.

A new heart

changes.

So our heart

has changed.

Our passion

has changed.

So our desires

and passions

now lead to

holiness.

Pursuing holiness.

So thirdly,

first,

admit God

has called us

out of darkness

into light.

Admit that as

Christians we are

children of God,

meaning that God

has changed us,

given us a new

heart,

now sons and

daughters of the

King.

Thirdly,

we place our hope

in our future.

We place our hope

in our future.

Verse 13,

the second part

of verse 13

says,

set your hope

fully on the

grace that will

be brought to you

at the revelation

of Jesus Christ.

Now,

this does not

mean or is

suggesting a

flight into

dreamland

thinking

of future,

hoping that

maybe that

thought of our

future glory

will dull

the life

here,

what we're going

through,

the persecution

or the struggle

or the whatever.

That's not what

he's suggesting

here.

As if it's some

sort of drug

that just kind of

numbs us and we

just kind of keep

going through and

just ho-hum.

That's not what

he's suggesting.

What he's suggesting

is that instead

of viewing the

present circumstance,

we view it in

light of what's

to come,

the promises

of God.

we view the

situation saying

we can endure

because of

the promise

of God

that we will

overcome,

the promise

of God

that we will

be perfected,

that though my

body breaks

and I'm sick

and I am

suffering and I

have cancer

or whatever,

my body will be

perfected eventually

and I'm okay

with this situation

now because

hopefully in those

situations I can

bring glory to God

and I can pursue

holiness with a

new heart.

So,

we endure

because of what

God will do,

has done even.

The church in

Asia Minor,

remember Peter is

writing to them,

warning them of

what's to come.

Guys,

it's coming your

way.

Gather up,

get together,

understand,

realize,

look at chapter

1,

verse 3,

it says,

blessed be the

God and Father

of the Lord

Jesus Christ,

according to

His great mercy,

He has caused

us to be born

again to what?

To a living

hope.

Third sentence,

second sentence,

whatever it is,

He's already

saying look ahead

to what's to

come.

Look ahead to

your future

hope.

And hope in

that because of

what's to come.

Their persecution,

heavy persecution.

Kids,

vegetables,

don't usually

go together.

But you tell a

child,

you say,

eat your

vegetables and

you can have

cake.

What are they

going to do?

They're going to

eat their

vegetables.

You put that

cake in front of

them,

those vegetables

are gone.

Likewise,

for us,

we endure,

we go through

struggles,

we suffer here

on earth,

we have

physical ailments,

we live in

such a way,

we pursue

holiness,

even in

those situations,

looking ahead

to what's to

come.

We're going to

be perfected.

God is going

to receive glory

through the way

that I live

this out.

Our desert,

I know

illustrations fall

short,

but our

desert is to

come.

Fourthly,

this is where

we'll spend a

little bit more

time.

So not only

do we admit

that God has

called us

out of darkness

into light,

not only do we

admit that as

Christians we are

children of God,

meaning we have a

new heart,

that God has

changed our

heart from the

inside out,

we cannot do

it.

Not only do we

place our hope

in our future,

but fourthly and

finally,

we prepare our

minds for

action.

Verse 13,

therefore,

preparing your

minds for

action and

being sober

minded,

set your

hope fully

on the grace

that will be

brought to you

at the

revelation of

Jesus Christ.

Preparing your

minds for

action.

If you have

an ESV

Bible and

you're reading

in it,

there's a

footnote

that says

in the

Greek,

it's actually

gird up the

loins of

your mind.

Now this

picture that

Peter is

painting for

us is

back in

this time,

they would

wear long

dress-like

tunics.

And if

they're just

talking in

the marketplace,

if they're

just slowly

meandering,

if they're

just hanging

out at home,

it's all the

way down to

their ankles

or close to

that.

But when

they're working,

when they're

getting ready to

run or going

into war or

whatever,

they pull that

up and they

tuck it into

their belt.

And that's

called girding

their loins.

It's getting

ready,

freeing up

their legs

so that

they can

be men

or women

of action,

men of

action,

so that

they can

run and

they can

fight and

they can

do these

things,

they can

work in

their

garden or

whatever,

freely.

This is the

idea,

preparing your

minds for

action and

being sober

minded.

It's an

act of

preparation

for active

work.

So,

I love

golf.

I love

playing

golf.

I'm not

good at

golf.

I enjoy

every bit

of it.

I enjoy

buying new

golf balls.

That's

silly,

I know.

I just

love playing.

I love

being outside

and walking.

I like

how manicured

it is and

just everything

about golf,

even if I

hit a bad

shot.

Now,

I am not

going to get

any better

if I just

play golf

three or

four times

a year.

I'm going

to probably

maybe get

worse or

just kind

of stay

right where

I am.

It's not

going to

happen.

You've

got to

put time

in.

You've

got to

practice.

You've

got to

make

commitments

to prepare

for times

and wanting

to get

better and

putting in

those hard

work.

All those

phrases that

you find on

milk commercials

and NFL

commercials,

all those,

put in the

hard work.

Likewise,

holiness

takes practice

and takes

preparation,

preparation,

preparing our

minds.

Now see,

unlike golf,

where golf is

just my

ability,

there's no

supernatural power

out on the

golf course.

I mean,

maybe,

if I hit it

straight,

possibly.

But for the

most part,

it's just me

and the golf

ball and the

golf club.

But for us,

holiness,

it's God

in us that

can empower

us and

strengthen us

and push

us to do

what He has

commanded us

to do.

He can

accomplish

what He

commands

through us

and through

the Holy

Spirit.

So preparing

our minds,

girding up

our loins.

So,

the next

thing it

says in

this verse

is,

and being

sober-minded.

A definition

of this is

complete clarity

of mind

and it's

resulting in

good judgment.

So,

I know

all of us

in here have

made really

bad choices

at some

point in

our life.

We made

a bad

decision.

We

didn't have

good judgment.

We weren't

sober-minded

in that

moment.

Peter,

when writing

this,

knew that

this world,

the cares

of this

world,

the temptress

of stuff,

the difficulties

and the

persecutions,

speaking to

the church

in Asia

Minor,

but even

to us

today,

can

intoxicate

us as

much as

alcohol can.

When we're

intoxicated,

we are

controlled by

that substance.

We don't

have much of a

say.

It's controlling

us to a

specific point.

And the

desires of

this world,

the things

that we want,

the things

that we think

we need,

the boyfriend,

the girlfriend,

the husband,

the wife,

the car,

the house,

fill in the

blank,

the specific

grade that

you think

you need,

all of

this can

intoxicate

us,

can consume

us.

And so

Peter is

warning the

churches in

Asia Minor

and warning

us today,

be sober

minded,

be of good

judgment,

complete clarity

of mind,

knowing what

was headed

their way,

knowing what

we deal

with even

today.

Turn to

Philippians

Philippians 4 · chapter mention

chapter 4.

So we need

to have a

clear mind

so that we

can think

on godly

things,

that we can

think on

God and

His holiness

so that we

can pursue

Him and

Him alone.

In

Philippians

Philippians 4 · chapter mention

chapter 4,

Paul is

getting ready

to close

this letter

to the

church of

Philippi

and he

says,

finally

brothers,

whatever is

true,

whatever is

honorable,

whatever is

just,

whatever is

pure,

whatever is

lovely,

whatever is

commendable,

if there is

any excellence,

if there is

anything worthy

of praise,

think about

these things.

Here's the

kicker here,

is God

is these

things.

Who is

honorable?

Who is

just?

Who is

pure?

Who is

lovely?

Who is

commendable?

Who is

excellent?

Who is

worthy of

praise?

Think of

these things.

God

encompasses

all of

those

things.

He is

all of

those

things.

Now,

there's

other

things

that

from

God

we

can

think

on.

Think

on His

word.

Think

on our

brothers and

sisters in need.

Think

on our

brothers and

sisters who

are pursuing

holiness.

They are

from Him

and out

of His

work.

So,

in 1 Peter

in verse

13,

it says,

therefore,

preparing your

minds for

action.

Now,

what we

have here

is a

present tense.

Preparing

your minds.

It doesn't

say,

prepare your

minds.

It doesn't

say,

since you

have prepared

your minds.

It's just

preparing.

So,

this is a

continuous

action by

you and

by me.

Meaning,

that if you

are going to

the movie,

prepare your

minds for

what you

may see

or hear.

If you

are going

to class,

prepare your

minds for

the opportunity

to share

the gospel.

Remember the

definition of

sober-minded,

complete clarity

of mind and

its resulting

good judgment.

Sober-minded,

preparing our

minds for

action,

whenever,

wherever we

go,

preparing our

minds for

that action.

Your

holiness and

my holiness

depends on

it.

Now,

here's the

beauty of

the gospel.

Here's the

beauty of

the gospel.

God is

holy and

He is the

source of

holiness.

And in

Christ,

if you are

a Christian

in this

room,

if you have

confessed your

sins and you

believe that

Jesus died for

your sins and

you are a

Christian,

then in

Christ,

you are

holy before

God.

In Christ,

you stand as

if no sin

had ever been

committed.

You stand

set apart.

Right now,

here in

this room,

we get

done,

we pray,

we leave,

we drive

down the

road,

we make a

bad choice

on the

road,

we say

something we

shouldn't

have said,

we struggle,

we have

difficulties here

on earth,

because sin

still is in

us.

But here on

earth,

we have the

power of

Christ through

the Holy

Spirit in

us to

pursue holiness,

to strive to

be holy,

to prepare

our minds,

to be

sober-minded

with God

in us,

and we can

live in

His power.

So verse

13 starts

with

therefore.

Therefore,

preparing your

minds for

action.

Now,

this

therefore is

there for

a reason.

In light of

what I've

just said,

prepare

your minds

for action.

Well,

what has

He just

said?

Let's

start reading

in 1 Peter

1 Peter 1:3

chapter 1,

verse 3.

Blessed be

the God

and Father

of our

Lord Jesus

Christ.

According

to His

great mercy,

He has

caused us

to be

born again

to a

living hope

to the

resurrection

of Jesus

Christ from

the dead,

to an

inheritance

that is

imperishable,

undefiled,

and unfading,

kept in

heaven for

you,

who by

God's

power are

being guarded

through faith

for a

salvation

ready to

be revealed

in the

last time.

In this

you rejoice,

though now

for a little

while,

if necessary,

you have

been grieved

by various

trials,

so that the

tested genuineness

of your

faith,

more precious

than gold

that perishes,

though it is

tested by fire,

may be found

to result in

praise and

glory and

honor at the

revelation of

Jesus Christ.

Though you have

not seen Him,

you love Him.

Though you do

not now see

Him,

you believe

in Him

and rejoice

with joy

that is

inexpressible

and filled

with glory,

obtaining the

outcome of

your faith,

the salvation

of your

souls.

This salvation

is through

who?

Jesus Christ.

Blessed be the

God and Father

of our Lord

Jesus Christ.

To His great

mercy,

He has

caused us

to be born

again to a

living hope.

It is God

in us,

through us,

that we are

able to pursue

holiness,

that we are

able to do

any of these

things,

that we are

able to repent

and confess

and believe.

It is by

God's power,

by this great

salvation that we

have,

that the Holy

Spirit in us,

Jesus in us,

that we can

admit that God

has called us

out of darkness.

We can admit it

that God has

called us out

of darkness

and into light.

that we were

enemies of God

and now we

are children

of God.

We have to

admit that we

are children

of God,

that He has

changed the

heart in us,

made us sons

and daughters

of the King

through Jesus

Christ.

We can place

our hope in

God and our

future and His

future plan,

not our own.

Some of you

are college

students in here

and you have

your ideas of

what you're

going to do

and where

you're going

to go.

You have no

idea where

you're going

to go.

You think

you know.

William,

you can relate

to this.

You think

you know

where you're

going.

You really

don't.

But God

does.

God knows

what you're

going to

encounter.

God knows

what struggles

you're going

to face.

God knows

what joys

you're going

to have.

God knows

what will

become of

you in

your life.

And that's

okay.

That's good.

We can

settle.

We can

be comforted

in that.

We can

place our

hope in

God.

And then

finally,

we can prepare

our minds

for action.

We can be

sober-minded.

We can make

right judgments.

We can be

in the right

place in

our minds

to make

good decisions,

to pursue

holiness,

not be

intoxicated

by this

world,

not be

wooed

by what

this world

has to

offer.

A lot

of this

stuff here

in this

world is

not bad.

God

created it.

But the

problem is

what intoxicated

us is when

we think

we need

that over

God.

When we

pursue

that.

over

God.

That's not

holiness.

That's sin.

Little change.

Change in

our thinking.

Our want

to's change.

Our desires

and passions

change because

God has

acted in

us.

So I

pray for

all of us

in here that

we would

pursue holiness

so that when

we read

Leviticus

through our

Bible reading

plan or

we read

numbers or

we read

another hard

book that

gives us

a bunch

of laws

shows what

he required

of Israel

we read

it and

say yes

God has

made us

holy as

he is

setting

Israel

apart in

the Old

Testament.

He has

set us

apart and

we celebrate

in that and

we pursue

holiness.

We desire

holiness.

We acknowledge

and admit that

we are his

children and

he has

called us

from darkness

and delight.

Let's pray

together.

Let's pray

together.