Intentional Holiness

If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out. And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, where "'their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.'

Mark 9:42 (TNIV)

Understand today that living a Holy life which enables you to experience God’s presence and love in an extraordinary way does not just happen in this life. Yes, of course, God through His Spirit who lives inside of you will give you all of the power that you need to be victorious and to die to your own selfish and fleshly desires, however, it is up to you to engage this power by intentionally putting boundaries in place that will keep your old ways of the sinful nature at bay. Jesus is very clear here that it takes some intentional action on our part as His followers to resist temptation in order that we could be free to live for Him and in order that we could really live the God given purpose for our lives that is full of abundance, peace, love and every good thing that you could ever imagine! Personally, I want more than anything to be used by God and to experience His love and power in my life and I understand that it is up to me to walk the narrow way that is not always easy at times and that may cause pain to my flesh as I die to my own selfish desires and as I die to my own will in order that God could enact His will in and through my life. Although this process is not easy and there will be times when you will fail, keep in mind two things as you pursue this life of Holiness. 1.) God’s grace and love is big enough to cover any defeat or any shortfall that will happen to you along the journey. 2.) The rewards for your efforts to move toward God and to obey His commands in such a way that you die to your self in order that you could live for Him and begin to really know Jesus in a personal way, don’t even compare to the short lived perceived pleasure that you will experience if you choose to live for yourself. Be intentional today concerning your relationship with Jesus Christ – put aside the things of the flesh that will only cause you pain and separation from God and move toward the narrow road which leads to a love relationship with your Creator that is indescribable and never ending!