God gives this command in 1 Peter 1:16: “Be holy, for I am holy.”

Who is God speaking to?  Without His divine help, no one can live a holy life.  We need a heart transformation.  We need a heart transplant.

God is speaking to those who are His children.  They have already had heart surgery.  They have accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior and have a personal relationship with God.  They have the Holy Spirit dwelling in them.  God’s power is the key to living a holy life.

If you are God’s child, He is saying to you, “Be holy, for I am holy.”  He will give you a new heart.

Titus 2:11-14
“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.”

God has called His children to be His ambassadors on the earth and to bring Him glory.  He gives every one of His children the power to live a pure and holy life.

In previous blogs, we looked at two ways God helps us to live righteously.

God does a miraculous work in us when we turn to Christ.  He forgives us and brings us into relationship with Him.  He changes our hearts to desire to live a holy life.

God puts His Holy Spirit in us so that we may follow Him on a daily basis.  The Holy Spirit helps us understand Scripture.  If we surrender to His guidance, He will give us the strength to resist temptation and obey God’s Word.  He will transform our character to become like Christ’s (2 Corinthians 3:18).

Let’s look more closely at the Word of God.  This is the surgical instrument that God uses to transform our hearts and make them spiritually healthy.

God’s Word is crucial to living a holy life.  It renews our mind and makes it possible for the Holy Spirit to transform our character to be like Christ’s.

Hebrews 4:12,13
“For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.  And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.”

Romans 12:2
“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…”

The writer of Psalm 119:9-11 understood the transforming power of God’s Word.  He wanted to have a close relationship with God and live a holy life that would please Him.  His goal was to make God’s Word the central authority in his life.

Psalm 119:9-11
“How can a young man keep his way pure?  By keeping it according to Your word.
With all my heart I have sought You; do not let me wander from Your commandments.
Your word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against You.”

The psalmist viewed Scripture as a valuable treasure.  He internalized God’s Word by reading it, studying it, speaking it, pondering it, and praying about it.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 tells us that the Bible is God speaking to us.  It is filled with life-giving instructions, examples, promises, and warnings that train us how to live righteously.

2 Timothy 3:16-17
“All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.”

On our own, we can’t always perceive whether our thoughts, attitudes, words, and actions are holy and righteous or not.  Sin deceives us.  We need God’s Word to open our eyes and reveal the truth.

Do you want to have a close relationship with God and live a holy life that pleases Him?  Be like the psalmist and learn to treasure God’s Word in your heart.

What Do You Think?

Do you believe Scripture is God speaking to us?  Why or why not?

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