Today’s Encouragement is, “Because we have these promises, dear friends, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that can defile our body or spirit. And let us work toward complete holiness because we fear God.” 2 Corinthians 7:1 NLT
Work Toward –
Remember, we are perfectly clean before God because of our faith in Jesus. He alone is our Hope and Salvation!
Yet, because we love God, we respect His perfect holiness and His greatness, and we hold Him in awe. We are appropriately humbled in His Awesome Presence yet totally welcomed here by His great Love!
Salvation is the gift (Romans 6:23) which we cannot earn; there is no ‘work’ involved in accepting the love of God through Christ; this is a decision of our hearts and minds; not work.
So, what is it that we need to work toward? Rereading, it is ‘complete holiness.’ We immediately recoil, “What? That’s impossible!” And it certainly is – in our own strength. However, this is an invitation to work toward holiness, not to attain a state of perfect holiness, but to continually strive to grow closer to God, reflecting His Love and wisdom more and more. We do this by cleansing ourselves from everything that can defile our bodies and spirits. The emphasis is on direction, not perfection or achievement.
Our status as God dearly loved people is assured – because we are in Christ. But we can work toward holiness, or just apathetically accept that we can never change and “that’s just how God made me.” Our choice.
Father God, help us to recognize that our salvation is assured, but we still have the opportunity to work toward holiness. Help us to do so, out of desire to show You our love.
Yet Not I But Through Christ in Me
CityAlight