The Pursuit of Holiness

Doing a personal Bible study on Holiness...using the scriptures and Jerry Bridge's book on the Pursuit of Holiness. : )

"Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord." Hebrews 12:14

Jerry Bridges begins the preface talking about how farmers do all their plowing, sowing and fertilizing, knowing in the end he is utterly dependent on forces outside himself for the final results. He can't cause the seed to germinate, or produce the rain or sunshine for growing. The farmer cannot do what God must do, and God will not do what the farmer SHOULD do. I can't attain any degree of holiness without God working in my life, but God has given me the responsiblity to do the walking, he doesn't do that for us. We pray for victory when we know we should be acting in obedience. One of Jerry Bridge's major focuses in this book is the age old struggle of "what do I do myself, and what am I to rely on God to do?" We must see what the Bible teaches on this question and face up to our own responsibilities in the scriptures. Diligence and effort are required and it is a lifelong task! As we begin to conform to one area in our lives, God reveals our need in another area. Thats why we will always be pursuing this holiness, never coming to the place where we feel we have arrived. Similar to childrearing! I'm learning this! We THINK we've arrived when our children are grown! Or at least that we've raised them and they are OFF to adulthood! Done! HA! : ) I was speaking with one of our sweet, Godly ladies at church, Linda. Her daughter just had triplets...and she had been spending the night there to help her 5 nights a week. Linda was thrilled to be able to do this, but she looked exhausted. I looked at her...I guess a lot because of my current health....I just looked at her and it dawned on me that I need the grace of God more than ever... to realize that my job is never done...it just changes. Our rest from our labors comes when we arrive on the golden shores...til then I will take one day at a time...resting in the Lord...finding strength in each day from the Giver of strength and grace...pursuing holiness daily. My children need the Lord, they need to see their parents pursuing holiness and a deep walk with the Lord. We can't give up or let up!