Pure

'Can a mortal be just and upright before God? Can a person be pure before the Creator?' Job 4:17 NLT

This is a great question because we find in our own power we fall short every time. Even Paul, who wrote plenty of letters to the churches, noted he found he would do things he did not want to and did not always do what he wanted. Our flesh and spirit are at war. Without the power and guidance left to us when Jesus returned to heaven, we would not be able to overcome.

So how can we be considered pure?

1 John 3:2-6 NLT

Yes, dear friends, we are already God's children, and we can't even imagine what we will be like when Christ returns. But we do know that when he comes we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is. 3 And all who believe this will keep themselves pure, just as Christ is pure. 4 Those who sin are opposed to the law of God, for all sin opposes the law of God. 5 And you know that Jesus came to take away our sins, for there is no sin in him. 6 So if we continue to live in him, we won't sin either. But those who keep on sinning have never known him or understood who he is.

It isn’t easy to go without sinning. Our nature is quite selfish and we want things our way. We get upset even by people rudely cutting us off in traffic, cutting in line at a store, or stealing the parking spot we were waiting for during the Christmas rush. None of these are worth even an ounce of wasted energy and emotion. But truly we are creatures of flesh that unless we learn who Jesus is and then be adopted into His family, we may never know how truly bad this is.

Jesus tells us to love our enemies. I found this nigh on impossible before becoming a Christian. It is because I did not understand love other than in a selfish way. I did not have a pure idea of what love really was. Our reactions to all in the world are to show love, even if it may be tough love at times to correct them. We can’t do that if we don’t understand we are to be like Jesus, who is pure in how He loved us and reacted to all of us to the point of dying on the cross.

2 Peter 1:3 NLT

As we know Jesus better, his divine power gives us everything we need for living a godly life. He has called us to receive his own glory and goodness!

Psalm 19:7-11 NLT

The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul. The decrees of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. 8 The commandments of the LORD are right, bringing joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are clear, giving insight to life. 9 Reverence for the LORD is pure, lasting forever. The laws of the LORD are true; each one is fair. 10 They are more desirable than gold, even the finest gold. They are sweeter than honey, even honey dripping from the comb. 11 They are a warning to those who hear them; there is great reward for those who obey them. 12 How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart? Cleanse me from these hidden faults. 13 Keep me from deliberate sins! Don't let them control me. Then I will be free of guilt and innocent of great sin.

We should be understanding and react to our sins like the writer of the above psalm. A repentant heart goes a long way to becoming right with God because He can then teach us how to use His Law and shine His love on the world. How is your light shining?