READ: Isaiah 33,34; Psalms 79; 2 Corinthians 7
SCRIPTURE: 2 Corinthians 7: 1 Therefore,
since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from
everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of
reverence for God.
OBSERVATION: An old saying,
“Cleanliness is next to godliness” suggests that those who are clean and pure
are close to God. When speaking about cleanliness, people usually focus on outward
and physical cleaning. In 2 Cor.7:1, Paul calls the Corinthian believers for
perfecting holiness. Before his call for purification, Paul reminds some of the
promises that God gave to his people. In 2 Cor.6:16-18, we see at least seven
promises of the Old Testament. These promises give us a picture of what God does
for us, who he is to us, and who we are in God! How blessed it is for us to
have a God who walks, lives, and relates with us! These promises prelude Paul’s
call to the action of purification. When God comes to us, we have the responsibility
of keeping ourselves pure and holy to the Lord. Otherwise, we may fail to
notice God’s presence among us (Mt.5:8).
Paul invites the Corinthian believers, “let us purify ourselves.” Some Christians may think, God
purifies us when we submit and surrender ourselves to God. Of course, it is
true. God forgives and purifies us from all sins when we confess them. However,
keeping ourselves away from things that make us sin against the Lord is our
responsibility. We should be open to the Lord and for purifying ourselves in
“everything that contaminates our body and spirit.” We should not say excuses
like it is my weak area, it hurts none, nobody would know until or unless I
tell. The author of the book of Hebrews urges, “let us throw off everything
that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles” (Heb.12:1). Each of us knows
about what are the things that we must throw off from our lives. If we focus only
on outward things, we will be legalists like Pharisees who emphasized the law
without loving the Lord (Lk.11:42). Here, everything means EVERYTHING that
contaminates our body and spirit. We need to be equally concerned about the
purification of our body and spirit.
Paul speaks about “perfecting
holiness out of reverence for God.” It reminds us that purifying ourselves is
not a one-time work; it is something that we continually have to do to be holy.
We should be watchful about the weeds (Mt.13:25-27). Lastly, we should do the purification
for the Lord “out of reverence for God.” Our reverential fear of God gives us
the strength to purify ourselves, and it dispels the fear of man. Therefore, from
our lives, let us remove everything that grieves God and defiles us. According
to the promise, in Christ, we are God’s children and heirs.
APPLICATION: I am a child of
God. My body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who lives in me (1 Cor.6:19). I
should not destroy God’s temple (1 Cor.3:16,17). I am called to be among the
one in God’s holy people. I will not allow anything that hinders my
relationship with God.
PRAYER: Father God, thank
you for your call to live holy just like you. My God, keep me from willful
sins. Jesus, strengthen me to purify myself from all that contaminates my body
and spirit. Holy Spirit, help me to live with the reverential fear of God to
love and obey him every day. Amen.
- Arputharaj Samuel
+91 9538328573
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