Devotional for August 26

Thou shalt make a plate of pure gold, and grave upon it, like the

   engravings of a signet: HOLINESS TO THE LORD.--EXO. 28:36.

   Holiness, without which no man can see the Lord.--God is a Spirit: and
   they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.--But we
   are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy
   rags.--I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all
   the people I will be glorified.

   This is the law of the house: Upon the top of the mountain the whole
   limit thereof round about shall be most holy.--Holiness becometh thine
   house, O Lord, for ever.

   For their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified
   through the truth.--Seeing . . . that we have a great high priest, that
   is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us . . . come
   boldly unto the throne of grace. that we may obtain mercy, and find
   grace to help in time of need.

   Heb. 12:14. -John. 4:24. -Isa. 64:6. -Lev. 10:3.Ezek. 43:12. -Psa.
   93:5.John 17:19. -Heb. 4:14,16.

Holiness...a great gift of God, provided by the grace and love of our Lord Jesus Christ:
We are called to "Work out our own salvation with fear and trembling," and to "perfect holiness in the fear of God," and so we always strive toward an ideal,
but in its essence, holiness is a gift: "He who knew no sin became sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God  in Him;" "His divine power has given us all things that pertain to life and Godliness;" "Their sins and iniquities I will remember no more;" "as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us." "Whoever believes in Him [Jesus] shall receive remission (forgiveness, removal) of sins...The HOLY Spirit fell upon all those who heard the [Peter's] word."