I’m calling out to the elders of our family in and around Cleveland. I think there is about 40 of us here between our three families. A scripture I have felt inspired for us “old dudes” to pray for our families is, “…let us CLEANSE ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, PERFECTING holiness in the fear of God.” (2 Corin. 7:1)
This ongoing process of cleansing our lives from things that are opposed to God is how we as believers participates with God in “bringing holiness to completion.” God is the one who sets a believer aside as His, as holy, as set apart for His purposes. He does that for all who come to Him through faith in Christ and He begins the process of making us new in the image of Christ “…if anyone is in Christ, he is a NEW CREATION; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” (2 Corin. 5:17)
We are not only called to cleanse ourselves of these impurities, and to rid our lives of any fleshly pursuits, that dishonor our Lord, but we are to be holy, for God is holy. We are to be righteous in thought and word – in deed and in motive. We are to love the Lord with all our heart and soul and mind and strength, and we are to love one another as Christ loved us, and gave Himself for us.
Bless you and thank you, Bill