Dr. W's Reflections...
In case you missed it Sunday night, I encourage you to take a moment and watch this stirring gospel medley performed by Carrie Underwood with her invited guest, CeCe Winans, on the Academy of Country Music Awards (https://youtu.be/B-Ryd6xwTn4). They took us to church, and what a powerful witness for Christ it was on live Television!
And speaking of “church,” let us remember that the call to “holiness” invites us into the realm of God-discovery so that we can escape an otherwise “empty way of life.” Because Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, you and I have been “redeemed,” i.e., set free to experience a full and abundant life in Christ. Praise be to God!
So now, as we continue our journey together, let us confess: “We have been blessed to be a blessing!” And let us continue to pray: “Lord, send people to us and send us to people.” Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again!
The Lord be with you,
Wyatt
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HOLINESS IS MORE THAN SKIN DEEP
“But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.’” (1 Peter 1:15-16).
Just as “beauty is more than skin deep,” so “holiness” is more than skin deep. To be
“holy” is to be set apart by God. To be “holy” is not to be some kind of strange; rather to be “holy” is to be whole, i.e., complete in God. To be “holy” means that the goodness of God is not only inhabiting us, but it is the goodness of God that explains our words and actions.
“Holiness” is more than skin deep. This means that “holiness” is more than just dressing ourselves up with a righteous appearance. Instead, “holiness” explains why we do what we do because “holiness” is an inside-out experience. “Holiness” is a revelation from God that enables us to reflect the image and likeness of God in all we say and do as followers of Jesus Christ.