Church of God (Holiness)

Col 3:3-11 (10)

The men in the Woods family laugh and bear it. There is no reason to deny the fact that if you have seen one of the Woods family you have seen them all. We could have a random changing of noses and no one would notice that anything had changed in our appearance. We bear a resemblance that is unmistakable.

My first grandson, Joshua Gayle Woods, was born December 24, 2001. The discussion among the ladies followed the well worn path of former discussions. AI think that he has Becky’s nose and ears.” AI think he has Jonathan’s eyes.” Feeling a little mischievous I picked up Joshua and held his face next to mine and said, “Can’t you see the resemblance?”

In like manner, there must be a resemblance that is clear when people look at our character, our priorities, our ethics and our purpose for living. When they look at us they must see a resemblance of Jesus. When we are “born from above” we are made in the likeness of our Lord. When we become a “living sacrifice” we are conformed to His image. Our lives are to be a mirrored image of the One we serve. He alone must be seen when people look at us. This only becomes possible in the serious pursuit of holiness.

1 Cor 12:12-14 (13)

I really enjoyed working for Joe. Why? Joe, his foreman and I had established such a close relationship that it seemed as if we all thought alike. We “clicked” when we worked. When one needed a tool he didn’t have to ask for it because the other had already anticipated his need and was in the process of handing the tool to him. We worked together like a well oiled machine.

Isn’t it amazing that the human body works so well. Bones, organs, muscles, nerves, fluids, solids, cells all working together as if they had a college degree in cooperation. When I type these words on my computer I don’t even think about the process. The words just flow through my mind as a thought and my fingers automatically start punching the appropriate keys. My eyes don’t even have to leave the computer screen because my fingers know what they are supposed to do. Each part of the body takes care of its own responsibility. The blood flows, the stomach digests, the nose breathes, the eyes see, the ears hear, the back hurts. All work together in harmony.

The Church is not one local church, one denomination, or one philosophical viewpoint. It is all those who have been born again. It functions across church lines. It operates in spite of denomination barriers. It is one with Christ.

Col 2:1-12 (12)

If I ever saw redemptive lift it was in the life of Cleo. When I first found him he was poverty stricken, degraded, discouraged, and full of the devil. He drank, smoked, cussed, had pornography within easy reach of his chair… or his children. He had no job and didn’t care. He was lost and a loser.

Cleo, Bobbie and the kids started coming to church. Finally the day came when they prayed through at the altar. A radical change took place. No only was Cleo saved but he was changed! The cigarettes and the booze were thrown out. His language changed. His reading material changed. He got a job. He started to dress better. He had been risen with Christ. This meant that he was raised out of the depths of a sinful life to life in Christ. But this also meant that his lifestyle was altered which caused his thinking, his economy, his behavior, his demeanor and his appearance to be raised to another level as well.

Resurrection in Christ is truly a miraculous event in an individual’s life.