Keeping Pure
We are Spirit beings – God made us that way. When He cradled man from the ground man was without life therefore God breathed His life into his nostrils and gave him life. Life was found in the Spirit of God. That life was stolen from us when sin entered the world by the deception of the devil.
God is pure and He cannot coexist with evil. His intended purpose to live in harmony with man was tainted and had to send him away from His presence of holiness – the presence of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus came to restore harmony between God and man. He came to make man pure and holy; He came to leave man with an abiding presence of God. Accepting this offer from God through Jesus is the first step towards holiness but how do we ensure that stay pure, that we remain in holiness?
In Galatians God encourages us to live in the Spirit, to live according to the ways of God bearing His fruit and displaying His life to the world. This life is called the fruit of the Spirit and it brings forth the character of Christ that God desires us to embody. We are called to be like Christ – in loving and submitting to God and in loving the people around us. Because of the world we live in and the evil that always seeks to tempt us God has given us ways that are guaranteed to help us live pure and God pleasing lives.
We must
• Live in the Spirit (a prayerful life)
• Meditate on God’s word (bible study)
Living in the Spirit
His Spirit within us is what gives us life and His words are what keeps us in that life. Because Jesus lives we have been crucified and risen with Him now our Spirits live.
“Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live.” John 14:19 (NIV)
There are Spirits that work in us that influence us to crave things that are at odds with each other. The Spirit of God craves what is Holy and pleasing and the evil spirit craves what is unclean. The fruit of the Spirit is love and everything associated with it like patience and kindness. The fruits of the flesh or impure spirits are lusts of the flesh and everything associated with it like debauchery and sexual immorality.
“As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.” Ephesians 2:1-2 (NIV)
When we allow God’s Spirit to be our guiding force we become all that He is. His word says because He lives in us we will also live. It is impossible for mankind to be holy without God this is why God made this provision for us.
“You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.” John 15:3-4 (NIV)
Meditating on His Word
Feeding on God’s word renews our minds and keeps us free from sin. His word teaches us, rebukes us and corrects us; it does a refining work within us, a pruning of the spirit, a building of character. Its primary aim is to perfect us. It keeps us at God’s table as He works in us. This is why God calls us His workmanship. He will work within us until people see us as He desires us to be seen – oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of His glory.
“You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.” John 15:3 (NIV)
“Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.” Joshua 1:8 (NIV)
“If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.” John 15:7 (NIV)
Living in the Spirit (Prayer) and meditating on God’s word (Bible reading) is what the modern day Christian calls “devotional time”. We need to have our daily devotional time so that we are always pure and holy. May God keep you and help you on your sacrifice of holy living for Him.