Distinct

"Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amonuts to idolatry" (Colossians 3:5, New American Standard Bible).

CoCo Chanel was quoted to have said, "Elegance is refusal." Do you agree that sometimes, less is more? With an outfit, sometimes one piece of jewelry or one t-shirt can be better shown with a black dress or plain slacks. Sometimes, less in other areas can bring the distinct to light.

Are there some things in us (not necessarily in fashion) that, if they were not present, would show off who God is more? Some things in our hearts or some actions in our lives may not best reflect our Savior King, and in the case of this verse, some things lead to idolatry. The stunning thing about God is that He forgives us when we ask for it with a genuine, repentant heart.

There is an internal struggle that fights between flesh and spirit (see Romans 8:13). Through Jesus, our sins can be forgiven (Colossians 2:11), because of God's selfless love. Believers are forgiven and forever a part of God's family, yet God still works in us to bring us to an even closer relationship with Him. He works inside of us by the Holy Spirit's power, to put to death the sin within us and to fill us with Him.

Are there some recurring thoughts or habits in our lives, ones that dull or derail us from bringing honor to Christ? Let us pray that God reveals these things to us. We can pray He gives us the courage to remove those things from our lives. Let us bring glory to God in the process.

"Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 

If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk with the Spirit."
-Galatians 5:24-25 (NASB)

Lord, thank You for redeeming us. Remove sin in our lives that competes with us putting You first. Let us be a people who show who You are with all that's within us. Amen.

Above study based on the workbook HeartCall: Women Sharing God's Heart (Jaye Martin, 1999).

We pray for holiness

"Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification that without which no one will see the Lord" (Hebrews 12:14, New American Standard Bible).

With this verse, we can see how God calls us not only to turn to Him, but also to follow Him. As we seek to be holy, we seek to live lives that reflect Him. Now, it is easy for us to see how imperfect we are. Yet, we serve a God who is holy, so we pray to God for the strength to be more like Him, so that others may see the change He is making in us everyday.

The Israelites are a great example of how God loves His people. They would turn to God for direction, and God asked them to be a holy nation that lives differently since God is their leader. We can read how God blessed them and helped them see how to live lives that are different in a way that honors Him. They fell into sin, though, just like we have done. God sent them into exile, but He did not leave them. He taught them over time who He was and who He created them to be.

The neat thing is that now, we have been given Christ as an example of who God is and how we are to live on earth. He has given those who believe in and receive His call to turn to Him the Holy Spirit. The Holy Trinity, God three in one - the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit - are all a part of who God is. He is our Creator and He already loves us, but He can make us into more and more of a reflection of Him. There is the hope that the more we reflect God, our Savior and life-changer, that others will see God and want to know Him, too.

Lord, please make us more and more like You. Lead us in how we can be holy so others see You and the change You can make in a life. Thank You for Your word and Your sacrfice. Please help us live for You today. Amen.

The above devotion is based on the verse meant to be studied from HeartCall: Women Sharing God's Heart (1999, Jaye Martin).