Holy Pete Kersker - Sep 15, 2025 Jesus taught his disciples (students) to ask for good gifts that we need. The LORD will provide them to us they way a good father would care for his children. Our Father will provide the good gifts we really need through through the Holy Spirit. “If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" (Luke 11:13 NIV). We hear people talk about the Holy Spirit quite a bit in church. Sometimes the discussion revolves around the Trinity: God interacting with us as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Sometimes the conversation is about the gifts of the Spirit; whether they exist today or not. More often than not, though, we miss the most important part of receiving the Holy Spirit: God's Spirit is with us to help us be holy. His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness (2 Peter 1:3 NIV). Jesus told his disciples (students) that they would receive the Holy Spirit if they would just ask. They did receive the Holy Spirit and communicated the same promise to others (Acts 2:38). That promise is still extended to us today (Acts 2:39). So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets (Matthew 7:12 NIV). Jesus's then reminds his disciples (students) what it means to be holy (set apart, separate). We become holy, which means "set apart" or "separated," when we do what it good and right in God's eyes. The rest of the world is not doing what the LORD considers to be good, so we become set apart from them. That's why Jesus points his disciples (students) to the Law and the Prophets. These are the scriptures (writings) that tell us what God considers to be good. "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments" (Matthew 22:36-40 NIV). Jesus didn't just teach this concept one time at the sermon on the mount. He taught is many times throughout his preaching and teaching ministry. Others agreed with and even repeated this teaching back to Jesus when asked (Mark 12:32-34; Luke 10:25-28). They learned from Jesus that we need to walk with God every day, being holy in all we do. Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 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 1:13-16 NIV). Did you know that the Holy Spirit is given to us so we can be holy? Have you receive the Holy Spirit? Is God's Spirit working in you?