We are living in the last of the last days. Whether you acknowledge that or not doesn't really change the truth that we are closer to Jesus' return than we were even yesterday. So how we live this life God has given all of us, no matter who or where we are our life matters. Our eternity depends on how we live, and other lives are depending on how we live.
Hebrews 12:14 "Follow peace with all men, and holiness without which no man shall see the Lord."
This scripture tucked into the Bible in this chapter of Hebrews. As I spoke these words what stood out was "holiness." We don't hear that word said very much or even at all these days. We say that God is sovereign, God is in control, God is love, grace. But holy we don't hear that and even less we hear that we need to be holy. One of the synonyms for holy is blessed, we use that word often, we want that word "blessed" to be what our lives are filled with we expect it and consider it automatic as a gift for being a Christian, yet nothing with God is automatic. Everything requires us to respond.
Holy in the scripture means - sanctified or "so separated." When I looked up the word Holy in the Strong's Concordance and Vines Dictionary it said, "so separated." As I saw those words it stopped me, I am to "follow peace and holiness without which I shall not see the Lord." This verse so powerful, so important, so vital to my and others eternity was tucked behind the Hall of Faith chapter of Hebrews 11. Two things "peace and holiness" without these I (and others) will not see the Lord.
Stop and just let those words seep deep into your soul. I could be serving in church, sitting in church every service, But if I am not following peace (with all men) and holiness I shall not see the Lord. and others will not see the Lord in me.
Follow = pursue
Peace - hospitality, kindness, love, joy, - with people, yet live a so separate life. No offense or offensive. All men, which includes my husband, family, etc. Those we do get offended by or can be offensive to so easily.
So we can say this verse like this:
"Pursue peace (hospitality, kindness, love, joy with all people, don't get offended and don't be offensive and live a so separate righteous (a life in right standing with God) life, if not you will not see the Lord (and others will not be able to see the Lord either)."
As I pondered on the implecations of this verse I thought about my sister. She has always been persecuted by her husband and children because she pursued a so separate life unto the Lord. She would obey the Lord no matter what it cost her, she's denied herself, her wants, and desires. I've seen her cry because of the rejection of her children and her now ex-husband due to the choice to live a "so separated" life. I have also seen how God has "blessed" her. Having nothing, I mean no clothes, no home, to abundance of clothes, a home filled with everything she loved. Time and time again I have watched her give up what God said to and then He lavish her with love and blessing with something better.
I am gaining understanding of this verse. I want the world to see the Lord and accept Him as their Lord and Savior. Then I need to pursue peace (be hospitable, kind, loving, gentle, not easily offended nor offensive) and live a so separated life (to be in the world but not part of it) to be so different (but not a weird different) don't participate in the things the world does. Then people will see the Lord.
Living a so separated life means I diligently seek what God says to seek. Living a so separated life means doing what God says to do.
When we chose to live like this the Lord is seen. People see the Lord. They may not verbally acknowledge but they see Him. They may reject Him, but they see Him.
I determine to Pursue peace with all men and to live a so separated life so I and others will see the Lord. How about you?
Love you enjoy this life God has given you. It may not be easy, it may not be like anyone else's life, but its yours. Pursue peace!
Susie
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