8 July 2021 - Whatever is pure – think about such things
Philippians 4:8 (NIV)”Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”
For someone to be pure in heart, it means their heart is set on one thing and nothing else. It is wholly directed toward one thing. A good translation of the word pure would be "single" or "focused." So, to be pure in heart means to have a single-minded devotion to God.
Matthew 5:8 (NKJV) “Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.”
Matthew 5:8 (MSG) “You’re blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.
So, we need to sort out our inside world—remove all self-centredness, resentment, anger, criticism, and fear. Having pure thoughts and pure motives, totally unselfish, totally honest, with our primary focus on God. The moment our inside world is sorted, our mind and heart, then our outside world is also sorted, because God is the focus of our thinking process. Whatever is pure – think about such things
1 John 3:2-3 (TLB) “Yes, dear friends, we are already God’s children, right now, and we can’t even imagine what it is going to be like later on. But we do know this, that when he comes we will be like him, as a result of seeing him as he really is. 3 And everyone who really believes this will try to stay pure because Christ is pure.”
1 Chronicles 28:9 (NKJV) “As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind; for the Lord searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever.”
Romans 12:1 (CEV) “Dear friends, God is good. So I beg you to offer your bodies to him as a living sacrifice, pure and pleasing. That’s the most sensible way to serve God.”
2 Timothy 2:20-21 (NLT) “In a wealthy home some utensils are made of gold and silver, and some are made of wood and clay. The expensive utensils are used for special occasions, and the cheap ones are for everyday use. 21 If you keep yourself pure, you will be a special utensil for honourable use. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work”
“God doesn’t seek for golden vessels, and does not ask for silver ones, but He must have clean ones.” ― Dwight L. Moody
Whatever is pure – think about such things