Holiness

Matthew 6:1-6, “Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven. “So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. “And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”

Matthew, chapters 5, 6 and 7, bears witness to Jesus teaching how to live a holy and righteous life. Theologically, these chapters are referred to as the Sermon on the Mount or the holiness code. This is how we should live our lives once we have accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior; confessed our sins and sought God’s forgiveness; and we have repented. We live holy lives as our response in faith to God’s redeeming grace through Jesus Christ. Attempting to live a life that is holy without first emptying the unholy from our lives is meaningless.

Prayer: O God our Redeemer, You found us among the brokenness of life and redeemed us. Thank you for loving us this much. In Jesus precious and powerful Name we pray. Amen.