The AMI QT Devotional for today is provided by Pastor Charles Choe of Tapestry LA.

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS FOR TODAY

2 Corinthians 7:1

Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.

Whenever I find myself wearing a shirt with a Bible verse or a church logo, I must admit, I am quite conscious of it. I am aware that when I go to play basketball or go to the mall with the church shirt on my back, whether I like it or not, I am advertising my faith or my church. I would like to think that I am going about my day in a way that can be a blessing to others, not a stumbling block.

Paul says, in our text, that we should think like this all the time, whether we are wearing a shirt with a church name on it or not. In 2 Corinthians 6:14-18, Paul says we need to separate ourselves from worldly influences. It’s this act of separating from the world that makes us holy and not wearing a shirt or a necklace with a cross on it.

But God doesn’t just command this for the sake of commanding. This commandment to live holy lives is then coupled with a promise: I will receive you, I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters (v. 18). If we strive to live holy lives, we are assured that God will draw nigh, and that we will experience true fellowship with the Lord.

In a day and age when we don’t speak much about holiness—partly because we don’t want to be thought of as holier-than-thou—Paul continues to insist that we put holiness front and center. Instead of using Christian paraphernalia to show how we are different, “let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit.” In other words, we are to be the same when we engage in spiritual matters at church, as well as when we deal with matters at work or in a relationship with the opposite sex.

We need to strive to be set apart in every respect. Jesus demands it and He will not rest until He has claim over every part of our lives and make it part of His Kingdom. Jesus deserves all of our lives!

Prayer: Forgive me, heavenly Father, for my sins. Purify my heart and cast out any foothold the devil may have in me because of my sin. Empower me to live a life of holiness, and accept my life as an offering of praise and thanks to You. In the name of Jesus, I offer You my heart, my life, and my all. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Leviticus 25

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LUNCH BREAK STUDY

Read 1 Peter 1:14-16: As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, ¹⁵ but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,¹⁶ since it is written,“You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

Questions to Consider

1. What is Peter’s call to holiness based on?
2. What are we to be holy in?
3. What area in your life do you need to strive for the holiness of God today?

Notes  

1. We should be holy because God commands it. To do otherwise is to be disobedient.
2. We are to be holy in our conduct. If we want to be holy, it is reflected in the way we live.
3. Personal reflection.

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EVENING REFLECTION

“If you don’t delight in the fact that your Father is holy, holy, holy, then you are spiritually dead. You may be in a church. You may go to a Christian school. But if there is no delight in your soul for the holiness of God, you don’t know God. You don’t love God. You’re out of touch with God. You’re asleep to his character.”  – R.C Sproul