Pure Light

“To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure.”  Titus 1:15

 

Dictionary.com defines pure as:  “Free from anything of a different, inferior or contaminating kind.”  So what would that entail for a person to be described as pure?  It means that as a born-again child of God, we do not have a mixture of carnality, worldliness or evil mixed with the Spirit of Christ who dwells in us.  It means that we keep ourselves from influences that corrupt or pollute our spirit.  Sounds easy enough, right?!

If you have been around the block for even a week, you know that it is a most difficult process to keep your soul and mind pure while living in such a corrupt society.  Even one generation ago the overall morality of our culture was at a much higher standard than it is now.  The truest gauge is probably found in our media- what we see on TV, in print, and what we hear in lyrics.  As they say, we are going down like a lead balloon.  It is difficult to unplug from these influences, even if the only contact you have with the world is at the grocery store, school and work.

But we were not left on earth to withdraw and unplug.  We were left to share the good news, lead others to Christ and be salt and light!  So how do we remain pure in the middle of everything impure?  I have heard many an inspiring message on the analogy of the Christian to the eagle.  At the end of the day, the eagle cleans its wings, carefully removing all the trash and filth that it has acquired through its journey through the environment that day.  Likewise, we must take time each day to repent, confess and purify our hearts and minds.  We must submit ourselves to the “washing of the water with the Word”, by staying steadfast in the Bible.

Because sexual immorality, coarse jesting and immodesty have become so prevalent, we have our work cut out for us to help guard the purity of the hearts of our children.  Our society is completely sexualized.  If we do not take a stand, be different and stand for what is right, who will?  How will a lost and dying world ever see Jesus in us if we look and act like everyone else?

Dear Lord, create a pure heart in me.  Wash away all that is corrupt and help me stand out as light in the darkness. In Jesus’ Name.  Amen.

Sherri

Precious in His Sight

“Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.  Are you not much more valuable then they?”  Matthew 6:26

Bird watching has always had its fans.  There is something about watching the power of an eagle soaring through the sky.  Even the seemingly carefree existence of a sea gull in flight is enough to be breathtaking.

This passage of scriptures urges us to take a moment and look at these, some of God’s smallest creatures.  We are to recognize that they are not capable of planting and harvesting their own food.  We will not find a bird renting a storage space or “putting up vegetables”.  And yet, God sees to it that they have food when they need it, just as he provided manna for the Israelites.

The passage goes on to point out our value to God- as much more valuable than birds.  We, the human race, were created in the image of God.  Jesus came to earth, died for our sins and raised from the dead. He did all of this because we have value in His eyes.  We are priceless and precious to Him, our Creator.

When we worry about how we are going to feed our family or ourselves, we are usurping the place of God in our lives.  We are to look to Him to be our provider at all times.  Certainly, God has ordained work as a means of provision for the able-bodied.  But even our participation in work is at His good pleasure.  He gives us the intellect, the brawn or the favor to obtain and carry out any job we perform.  He gives us wisdom to manage the income we receive.  When all is said and done, He is the origin and conclusion of all things that pertain to us.

Trust in God today.  He will not fail you. He loves you intimately and infinitely.

Dear Lord, thank you that you care for even the smallest creature.  Thank you that you care for me even more.  Help me trust you to take care of my needs and to send whatever resources or provision I need.  In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Sherri