Matthew 5:8 … “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
As Christians our greatest desire should be to see God, both literally and figuratively. Do we desire to see God in our lives? To see Him represented by the things we say and do, so that people recognize something different about us. And to one day see Him face to face, and hear Him say, “Well done good and faithful servant.”
Psalm 24:3-4 … Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully.
Ephesians 5:5 … For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
When searching the scriptures we cannot avoid the message that God wants us to be pure. Along with instructing His children to be pure, He provides methods for achieving that purity.
Psalm 119:9 … How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word.
1 Corinthians 6:18 … Flee from sexual immorality.
Romans 13: … put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.
Putting on the Lord Jesus Christ is a choice every Christian has made to set ourselves apart from the world and live a life that is, quite frankly, bizarre in the eyes of those who have not been born again. Bizarre or not, it is what God wants of us.
1 Thessalonians 4:3-5 … For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God
Accomplishing this is not always an easy. In fact, it may require radical amputation.
Matthew 5:30 … And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.
While most theologians agree that Jesus does not mean the actual removal of our hand, rather He means that we should explore every possible way to eliminate temptations from our lives. Internet filters and software, if not removing computers from our lives altogether. Blocking certain channels, cancelling cable TV or getting rid of television. Avoiding those places where we may be tempted by someone or something.
However, removing those stumbling blocks from our lives is only part of the solution, we must then replace them with godly alternatives. If we are turning off the TV or the computer, we need to pick up the Bible, or spend time in prayer.
Psalm 51:10 … Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
Philippians 4:8 … Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
By putting aside the things of the flesh and seeking the kingdom of God, we declare that purity is eternally valuable. Furthermore, we establish ourselves as being suitable for serving the Lord.
James 4:8 … Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
2 Timothy 2:21 … Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.
~ BeFreeinChrist writing ~