Skip to main content

77. Purity, A Precious Commodity


Matthew 5:8, Psalm 15
Key Verse: "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.”
Matthew 5:8

In a society in which so many things are watered down, from vanilla extracts to truth, and imitation goods have become satisfactory for consumption, purity is a valuable commodity that is very hard to come by.  Purity is gained by a process of refinement that adds to its value.   Refining often removes impurities making the flavor stronger or the metal stronger in the process.

Consider this, it takes 40 gallons of sap to make one gallon of maple syrup.  We can probably think of other examples of products in our lives that require refinement, from foods to gasoline before we can use it.  Even parts of jewelry, such as diamonds, gold and silver become more valuable as they are refined.  That's why so many of us are content to settle for an imitation.  It is less expensive and works about the same, but in truth, it's not the same and an imitation certainly is not pure. 

When we consider that we are sinful creatures, born in sin and bent toward sin, yet desiring to be in the presence of a holy God who cannot be near sin, what an amazing amount of refining is required.  Yet, Jesus tells us that, when we have become "pure in heart,” we will see God.  When we do see Him, we can no longer be content with an imitation. 

It is said that the Lord loves us as we are, but He loves us too much to leave us that way.   When we accept Him as Lord of our lives, He begins a refining process that removes the dross, the foolishness and desire for sin that is in our lives because He wants us to be able to see Him. Doesn't that just make sense?  What loving Father would not want His child to be able to see and speak with Him face to face?  "See, I have refined you, though not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.  For my own sake, for my own sake I do this.  How can I let myself be defamed?  I will not yield my glory to another.”  (Isaiah 48:10-11)  We may find the process of refinement painful, but it is for His glory.  He is our loving, Heavenly Father who wants to draw us as close to Him as we possibly can get. 

When is He done?  Well, when we reach heaven, we will be perfectly like Christ in character, but while here on earth, Psalm 15 gives a pretty adequate description of what God is aiming for in our lives.  Someone whose walk is blameless, loves righteousness, is not a lover of money and speaks the truth has a good start on God's purification process.  Yes, the process is long.  It will take your lifetime to complete.  But, think of the reward when it is done!  You will see God face to face and live!

Hymn:  "Rejoice Ye Pure In Heart”

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

258. "Remember, Always Remember!"

Exodus 12:1-30 Key Verse: "This is a day you are to commemorate; for the generations to come you shall celebrate it as a festival to the Lord a lasting ordinance." Exodus 12:14 "Celebrate the feast of unleavened bread, because it was on this very day that I brought your divisions out of Egypt. Celebrate this day as a lasting ordinance for the generations to come." (Exodus 12:17) "And when your children ask you, "What does this ceremony mean to you?" then tell them, "It is the Passover sacrifice to the Lord, who passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt and spared our homes when He struck down the Egyptians." (Exodus 12:27) The original act was an act of worship as the first true act of freedom for the people of Israel. They had been brought to Egypt by Joseph during a time of famine so that through Joseph God could preserve their lives. ( Genesis 37 , & 39-50 ) After Joseph died, however, instead of heading back to C...
Post a Comment
Read more

August 13 What Is Fitting

It is not fitting for a fool to live in luxury—how much less for a slave to rule over princes! ~Proverbs 19:10   On the appointed day Herod, wearing his royal robes, sat on his throne and delivered a public address to the people. They shouted, “This is the voice of a god, not of a man!” Immediately, because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died. ~Acts 12:21-23  Wow! Well, what in the world can there be to benefit us here? First of all, perhaps we should review the first Biblical definition of a fool, penned by no other than Solomon’s Father, David himself. “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’” (Psalm 14:1 and Psalm 53:1) It is not fitting for the fool to live the blessed life. Why should they when they deny from whom all blessings flow?  King Herod was a fool. Now, just to be clear, this is not the Herod who ruled at Jesus’ birth and ordered the slaughter of the male children in Bethlehem. He ...
Post a Comment
Read more

July 26 Time for A Wellness Check Up

This too is a grievous evil: As a man comes, so he departs, and what does he gain, since he toils for the wind? All his days he eats in darkness, with great frustration, affliction and anger. Then I realized that it is good and proper for a man to eat and drink, and to find satisfaction in his toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given him—for this is his lot. Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work, this is a gift of God. He seldom reflects on the days of his life, because God keeps him occupied with gladness of heart. ~Ecclesiastes 5:16-20  I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret to being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everythi...
Post a Comment
Read more