Note before sharing the devotional: dovetailing off Thursday's post, I want to reiterate the definition of holy as being set apart. As God is set apart, as believers we are to also be set apart, for His glory. This means a higher calling and a higher standard of living.
Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: Hebrews 12:14, NKJV
Having freshly read through the Book of Exodus, it gives me a fresh perspective on that last line from the above passage from Hebrews: "without which no one will see the Lord." In Exodus, the Israelites couldn't even meet with God directly in the Holy of Holies in the inner sanctuary of the Tabernacle, where His presence appeared. Only the priests could, and only when they were purified. And even then, no one was allowed to enter except the High Priest (Aaron), and even he could only enter once a year. Similarly, no one can reach God without going through Jesus, and no one can even do that without first receiving Him as Savior, Lord, and King of their lives.
For I am the Lord who brings you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God. You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy. Leviticus 11:45, NKJV
Lastly, God requires us to be holy. It is not optional.
Peace Wherever Possible
What does holy living look like?According to the teachings in the New Testament, it’s living in accordance with God’s Word. Holiness means saying “no” to wrong actions, and seeking forgiveness when we do make mistakes. It looks like putting aside any selfish interests in order to pursue the good plans God has for the world.
The writer of the letter to the Hebrews understood that this wasn’t easy, so he encouraged his readers to “run with perseverance” while stripping off anything that might slow them down or trip them up (Hebrews 12:1-2).
The author of Hebrews then encourages his readers to be holy, to live according to God’s commands and His ways. Holiness gives others a window to see God in our lives. It also gives us the opportunity to love others the way Jesus would love them. As we pursue a relationship with God, the way we interact with people should change.
The author of Hebrews describes God as the God of peace (Hebrews 13:20). If our desire is to obey God and be like Him, then we should make every effort to live in peace with everyone.
When we live with anger or bitterness toward others, we’re unable to show them the love of Jesus. A love that sets us apart and shows off God’s glory.
Living at peace with people does not mean that we have to love everyone the same way or blindly accept misconduct. But, it does mean that we make an effort wherever possible to generously seek wholeness, reconciliation, and forgiveness—actions that lead to peace.
Take a moment today to consider your relationships with others. Are your relationships marked by anger or bitterness, or are you living at peace with others? If there is someone in your life you have not forgiven, make an effort to begin to make things right. Consider how you can live a life that aligns with God’s Word, so that others can see God working within you.
https://bible.com/bible/114/heb.12.14.NKJV
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