Holiness

REFLECTION QUOTES

“People who can’t control themselves control the people around them. When you rely on someone for a positive reflected sense of self, you invariably try to control him or her.”

~“Psychology Today,” (May 2013)

“We must shift America from a needs– to a desires– culture. People must be trained to desire, to want new things even before the old had been entirely consumed. We must shape a new mentality in America…. Man’s desires must overshadow his needs.”

~Paul Mazur, Lehman Brothers partner during the 1920s and 30s

“A change has come over our democracy, it is called consumptionism. The American citizens first importance to his country is now no longer that of citizen, but that of consumer.”

~An American journalist in 1927

“To be truly free, it takes more determination, courage, introspection, and restraint than to be in shackles.”

~Pietro Belluschi (1899-1994), Italian-born American architect and MIT professor

“When I am in the cellar of affliction, I look for the Lord’s choicest wines.”

“There is no sweeter fellowship with Christ than to bring our wounds and our sores to him.”

~Samuel Rutherford (c. 1600-1661), Scottish pastor and theologian

“It is the test of a good religion whether you can joke about it.”

~G.K. Chesterton (1874-1936), English writer and journalist

SERMON PASSAGE

1 Peter 1:13-2:3 (NASB)
13 Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, 15 but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; 16 because it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

17 If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth; 18 knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, 19 but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ. 20 For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you 21 who through Him are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

22 Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart, 23 for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God. 24 For,

“All flesh is like grass
And all its glory like the flower of the grass.
The grass withers,
And the flower falls off,
25 But the word of the Lord endures forever.”

And this is the word which was preached to you.

Chapter 2

1 Therefore, putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, 2 like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, 3 if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord.