The Daily Breadcast

Holiness is not something we think of much. And when we do, we usually apply that to God alone. So, what is holiness? What does it mean to be holy?

The Hebrew word is qadosh meaning “sacred” or “set apart.” The Greek word is hagios with the same meaning. Holiness is the quality of being holy, the quality of being sacred, set apart, or blameless.

The idea of set apart or blameless fits very well in passages such as Isaiah 6, Revelation 4 and 22, or Ephesians 1 where being holy is a description of God and his followers. They each are set apart and blameless, unique in every way.

As we are to emulate God, we are commanded to be holy as He is holy. The best passage in Scripture which describes how we are to practice holiness is 1 Peter 1:13-19. Let’s break this down into action steps.

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I’ve been wrestling with this one.

It’s begun to seem to me that there are times when I begin to put limits on God, and then suppose I know what God is going to do.  For instance, I pray to have a good game at soccer and then I’ll say to God “you probably don’t even care about the outcome” because it’s a silly game.  I mean… that makes sense to me, there is seemingly no direct connection between God’s will and my request for a good game.

However, I don’t know if that's a doubt, but there are times when I begin to wonder if maybe that is actually me doubting that my request will be addressed.  But seriously, who am I to suppose that I am confident enough to know that something either matters or doesn’t matter to God.

Why do I do that?

How arrogant?!

My pride infiltrates my prayer or my reason to pray.  My ignorance poses as knowledge.  My immaturity on display and me too blind to even realize it.

James 1:7 if I doubt, then I shouldn’t expect to receive anything from the Lord.

Proverbs 16:5 arrogance is hated by God, it’s an abomination

Claiming you know what God will or won’t do, why even pray?!

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No Law

I have said this for many years; where there is no enforcement, there is no law. Every year that passes, the more obvious this becomes.

Examples of this are everywhere, especially from the consequences of health and social events of the past few years. Have you been sitting at a red light, it turns green, and someone flies through the intersection in front of you? There is a stop sign and many just do not stop. The sign on the door of the business says “EXIT” and people walk into the store through that door. No one stops them, no one corrects. Where there is no enforcement, there is no law.

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WHAT DOES LOYALTY LOOK LIKE?

• CONSISTENT
• DEPENDABLE
• TRUSTWORTHY
• COMMITMENT SHOWN THROUGH ACTION
• INVOLVES:
• HONESTY
• PROMISE KEEPING or KEEPING YOU WORD
• SHOWING UP REGARDLESS IF IT’S TOUGH
• PRIORITIZING
• DEFENDING THEM (WHOMEVER YOU’RE LOYAL TO)
• WORKING THROUGH STRUGGLE RATHER THAN ABANDONING AMIDST THE STRUGGLE

THINGS TO THINK ABOUT THAT CREATE OR GIVE US PLEASURE… THINGS THAT COULD REPLACE OUR LOYALTY TO GOD

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO PURSUE PLEASURE?

WHEN DOES OUR PURSUIT OF PLEASURE TURN INTO IDOLATRY?

HAVE YOU EVER CONSIDERED WHETHER OR NOT YOU’RE AN IDOLATOR TODAY?

What effect could a pursuit of pleasure have on our work for the Lord?

#christjesus #love #gaintheworld #jesus #church #christ #newepisode #churchofchrist #TheOneTrueGod #willard #chroniclesofwillard

“For the joy set before him…”

In chapter 2 of Paul’s letter to the Philippians, he explains joy’s source. Joy is not found in happiness, pleasure or fun. Joy comes from a forward focus upon tasks that produce long term blessings, both for self and others. We see this all around us. We make our kids do certain things (even when they do not want to) knowing the results for them will be beneficial. We do this with employees or fellow workers. We instruct or ask to have things done a certain way knowing the best results. Many times, in all these circumstances, we do not explain our reasoning, only that the work is done in the manner instructed.

As Paul explains in Philippians 2, Jesus becomes the supreme example of joy due to that forward focus. In Hebrews 12:2 this same idea is expressed, “…who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”

#christjesus #love #gaintheworld #jesus #church #christ #newepisode #churchofchrist #TheOneTrueGod #willard #chroniclesofwillard

When things are easy, things come naturally or you’re not challenged then support, desire, effort, and all kinds of things just… appear.  

What makes things easy?

I’ll start from a coaching perspective:

• Talented, hard-working kids that are determined to win.
• Support given from parents or community members (especially for school teams)
• Opponents that are not as talented or hard-working
• Players that do everything right on and off the field
• There’s probably more



What about starting a business...

What makes things easy when trying to live a christian life...

However…I want to look at when things are not easy or don’t come naturally.

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“I’m Fine!”

Has someone ever said that to you? Have you ever said that to someone? You probably have. I know I have. Perhaps you were using the acronym F.I.N.E.

F-reaked out

I-nsecure

N-eurotic

E-motional

If you were stating, “I’M FINE!!!!” to convince yourself you are, then perhaps you were correct. But I suspect not.

It’s so easy to just spit out those words without thinking. We really do not like telling others our problems and withhold expressing fatigue, frustration, and other such things. Perhaps we are just trying to spare the questioner a long story about our day. Perhaps we are sparing ourselves from confronting those in ourselves. But responding FINE is not really answering, it’s avoidance. We know that’s true. Well, not all the time, but most! How should we respond when we are asked, “How are you?” I have a few suggestions.

#christjesus #love #gaintheworld #jesus #church #christ #newepisode #churchofchrist #TheOneTrueGod #willard #chroniclesofwillard

“When once it is supposed possible that there may be falsehood or fallacy in any word of God, a door is then opened to downright unfaithfulness.” By Michael Hardin

This is stated in context to what Satan did to Eve in the garden.

Think about it today though…

How many places tell you what you need to do to be saved? Then, how many different ways are there to be saved?

But…

The Bible says Jesus is the way, the truth and the life, and no one comes to the father except by him.

So, when Jesus speaks we should listen. Too many messages by churches today say…

Accept Jesus into your hearts, or…

Confess Jesus as your Lord and Savior, or…

All you have to do is believe in your heart.

They take small snapshots of God’s word and make it all encompassing. When in legitimacy, you must take the Bible in its entirety and compose all statements that indicate salvation.

So... What must you do to be saved?

#christjesus #love #gaintheworld #jesus #church #christ #newepisode #churchofchrist #TheOneTrueGod #willard #chroniclesofwillard

It's difficult, time consuming and costly to have a nice lawn. Knowledge of how to mow properly, fertilize at the right time with the right stuff, herbicides, pesticides, pre-emergents, devotion of several hours every week all year long and hundreds of dollars are necessary to have that excellent lawn. Millions of dollars and tens of thousands of manhours are spent each year on parks, baseball fields, soccer fields, etc. just for the enjoyment of the game or time with nature. On the other hand, it's easy, cheap and takes no time at all to grow weeds. You need to know nothing, spend no money, take no time, and make no effort to develop a fine crop of weeds. Just ignore your lawn or be lazy and voile, weeds!

#christjesus #love #gaintheworld #jesus #church #christ #newepisode #churchofchrist #TheOneTrueGod

How many times have you heard one of these stories…

Someone who takes care of their diet, exercises daily, then just something inward causes death at 50. They followed doctors and dietician advice.

Someone else, no regard for diet, no real exercise or “health” habits, and they does of natural causes at the age of 80 or ninety.

We have no control of our physical end, as long as we don’t take our own life. The best we can hope for is control of how we feel physically in the present.

“I know that nothing is better for them than to rejoice, and to do good in their lives, and also that every man should eat and drink and enjoy the good of all his labor—it is the gift of God.” ‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭3‬:‭12‬-‭13‬

Solomon echoes this sentiment multiple times in Ecclesiastes. It’s likely because today is a gift from God, so… enjoy today with what God has given you.

When you think you are the one in control, and especially in control of your end (time on earth), God, according to biblical examples, will humble you.

#christjesus #love #gaintheworld #jesus #church #christ #newepisode #churchofchrist #TheOneTrueGod #willard #chroniclesofwillard