Weekly Devo

     We often confuse a good reputation and purity. A good reputation is not the same thing as purity. (Matt. 23:27-28) A good reputation is focused on your outside action and appearances. You can present anything in a nice package. Purity is about the core of man. Out of the depths of man should come our good deeds. From the pure comes pure things. Being pure will earn you a good reputation. Having a good reputation does not mean you are pure. That is why we must be pure in heart. (Matt. 12:34-35) It is our wellspring of goodness. If we are not pure we cannot give off good. Be careful to not seek a good reputation. Seek a pure heart and purity. Then let the good reputation come from that.  

As a Christian purity includes the name of God being above all else. (Mal. 1:11) For us to stay cleansed from the filth of this world, God’s name must be great among all nations. That very concept, when fully grasped, is how we become pure. We come to recognize the omnipotence of God and bend to His will. We are purified when we are willing and obedient. (Isa. 1:18-19) We are purified when we obey the truth, God’s word. (I Pet. 1:22-23) We are washed from the filth when we accept the reality of our state and do what God commands to be done to change it. Be washed. (I Pet. 3:21) Stay washed. (I John 1:5-10)                                    

We are God’s workmanship created in Christ. (Eph. 2:10) We have a work and purpose. We must strive for purity for we offer up spiritual sacrifices. (I Pet. 2:5) When we are pure we see purely. Those that are not pure see sharp judgement. (2 Sam. 22:27) To the pure all things are pure. (Titus 1:15) There is a danger of being  pure in our own eyes and still not be washed from filth. (Prov. 30:12) That is a dangerously misguided way to live. We must be pure in all ways not just our own eyes. We must maintain purity to offer up acceptable spiritual sacrifices.

We care about the purity of our water. We magnify the need for pure air. We seek pure foods. We want pure internet connection. We desire pure video and audio files. Purity is preached everywhere in our lives in today’s American culture. Still the essential aspect of life that must be pure is overlooked. Pure religion is essential. Jesus had it. He taught it. God desires for us to have it. Let’s make sure we have pure religion. (James 1:27) For those that have a pure heart get to see God. (Matt. 5:8) God paid the price for us to be pure. Let us be pure.