Good Day My Friends! It’s Palm Sunday, the beginning of Holy Week. This final week of our 40 Days of Intentional Living are going to be days filled with hope for our lives. Please don’t quit now. We have a great opportunity ahead of us.
“Pursue…holiness, without which no one will see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14, NKJV).
Perilous Times and Perilous People
Throughout our 40 Days of Intentional Living, I’ve mentioned the naughty list a few times. This actually seems trivial today as I reflect on the utter significance of Jesus’ holiness. The word “naughty” does not do justice to the word “unholy.” Nevertheless, “unholy” makes the naughty list.
“But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God” (2 Timothy 3:1-4, NKJV).
Unholy is showing disregard for what is holy. When people are unholy they are shockingly bad, showing complete and utter disrespect, foremost to God, and all things related to Him, including those who are God’s people. When someone is unholy he or she is morally or spiritually impure. In other words, they are unclean.
God wants us to be able to distinguish between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean (Leviticus 10:10).
Think of unholiness as being dirty, completely unclean. Have you ever seen a bathroom that is completely dirty and disgusting? I can think of a few gas station bathrooms that would meet this criteria. Yuk! Who wants to intentionally go into an unclean, dirty bathroom? No one, I hope.
This is what God means by unholy. It means unclean.
Holiness
I always find it interesting to see what topics in the Bible God stresses in exorbitant ways. Just like love, holiness is one of those topics. Depending on which version of the Bible you search, the word “holy” is used between 550-850 times!
I’m convinced God wants us to understand holiness. He wants us to embrace holiness. He wants us to live holy lives.
What does that mean exactly?
Holy means exalted or worthy of complete devotion as one perfect in goodness and righteousness.
When we embrace holiness we are showing a devotion to God and to a life of virtue. We are intentionally choosing to strive for goodness and righteousness, meaning do good and do right.
As we’ve seen in previous days, God provides what living a holy life should include from Galatians 5:22-23:
Do not miss this most important message from God, “without holiness no one will see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14, NKJV).
Now our Heavenly Fathers knows we can’t accomplish holiness on our own. This is why He sent His one and only Son, Jesus, to earth. He came that we made be made holy. Set apart as God’s people! That’s how much we are loved by God.
“God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, [Jesus] Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8, ESV).
Our unholiness is so great, only a divine sacrifice could change that and help us become God’s holy people.
The Triumphant Entry
“The next day, when the large crowd that had come to the festival heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, they took palm branches and went out to meet Him. They kept shouting: “Hosanna! He who comes in the name of the Lord is the blessed One—the King of Israel!” (John 12:12-13,HCSB).
Jesus was honored on what we now refer to as Palm Sunday. The people knew He was King of Israel. They laid palm branches over the donkey he rode and they waved the palm branches. Palm branches were a symbolic way of showing the importance of who Jesus was.
“The palm branch represented goodness and victory and was symbolic of the final victory He would soon fulfill over death.”
Jesus knew this day was the beginning of a very life-changing event for Him and His Kingdom. This is why Jesus came to earth. He lived. He loved. He died for our sins because He loves us. He saves us.
As we enter Holy Week, may we be reminded of its significance and value for our lives today. That very important day in history, when Jesus began His journey towards the cross.
Blessing for Your Day
[callout]May you choose to intentionally live holy lives reflecting the love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control of Jesus.[/callout]
Just for Today
Refrain from Unholiness. Embrace Holiness!
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