The effects of sin and of holiness

  1. Sin wastes time. Holiness redeems the time, Eph 5.7-15; 1 Pet 1.14-17; 4.1-2, 7.
  2. Sin ruins relationships. Holiness establishes loving relationships, Col 3.12-13; 1 Pet 1.22; Jude 19-21.
  3. Sin leads to a frustrated life. Holiness leads to a life of peace, Phil 4.7-9; 1 Tim 2.2; Heb 12.14.
  4. Sin separates from God eternally. Holiness sees God, Rom 3.23; 6.23; Heb 12.14.
  5. Sin brings sadness, sooner or later. Holiness causes joy, from start to finish, Rom 14.17; 15.13; Jude 24.

Keep me living on the edge, my Father

O Lord, the evli one would lull me into a sense of false security, to rush and overwhelm me suddenly, to take me unawares. Keep me living on the edge, my Father, ever on guard, never asleep, so I can be holy, as you are holy.

O God, our Rescuer, let my satisfaction with being holy be surpassed

O God, our Rescuer, let my satisfaction with being holy like you be surpassed only by my joy over one sinner who repents, because it echoes the joy in heaven among your angels. Use me as your agent for that one sinner to hear the good news that repentance is a real option and that salvation is near.