1 Peter 1:16 ~ 2 Cor 6:16-7:1
Be ye holy; for I am holy. ~
What agreement hath the temple of God with idols?
For ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said,
I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God,
and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them,
and be ye separate, saith the Lord,
and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters,
saith the Lord Almighty.
Jesus loves the non-conformist, being one Himself! There was nothing orthodox about the manner in which Christ conducted His life. The Lord did not buy into conventional thinking, nor allow Himself to compromise with the religious systems of men. The zeal of God does not tolerate political games. Holiness cannot cooperate with human dysfunction; it does not succumb to worldly pressure and stays true to itself, even while being crucified. Jesus is trying to make us Holy, as He is Holy; uncompromised, separate from and untainted by the defilement of fear. Jesus Christ is God’s Way, distinctly different from the world and its ways. The world wants us to go with the flow, not make waves and follow their rules. Holiness demands we withstand conformity!
Romans 13:1
let every soul be subject to the higher power
Most successful people are determined to achieve their goals come hell or high water. Most parents desire that their children have determination to succeed in life. However, they cannot tolerate the stubborn child who defies them. Yet, determination and stubbornness are one in the same. The only difference between stubbornness and determination is simply, whose “will” is supreme? The Hebrew children, stubbornly defied King Nebuchadnezzar’s will, because they were determined to obey God, rather than man! Nebuchadnezzar had power to throw their bodies in the fire, but God walked with them therein and they were unscathed. Likewise, Jesus defied and confronted the Sanhedrin while in perfect submission to His Father. The Scribes and Pharisees continually accused Jesus of violating the laws and traditions, and may as well have said, “He has a rebellious spirit,” for not recognizing and submitting to their authority. Jesus however, was in complete subjection to the Highest Power and determined to do His will above all!
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