A Pure Heart is Obedience to the LORD

We are “Called to be Holy”. And that is the title of the passage in 1 Peter I am reading through and studying this morning.

“¹⁴As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, ¹⁵but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, ¹⁶since it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy.’” – 1 Peter 1:14-16 (ESV)

Thinking about it, I am a brother of Christ. And as we are sons of God, we are called to be obedient. I am to be an example of Christ today and therefor am to be obedient to the Father as He is obedient to the father.

I have been saved by the grace of God and the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus who went through it all for me and not for Himself. Thanks to the salvation that I have been given, I have been washed clean and received the chance to start again.

“²²Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart,” – 1 Peter 1:22 (ESV)

I have been given that chance to start again and in doing so, I am to be obedient. That obedience is rooted in love for the LORD and keeping Him in my heart where His purity can reside. I am to keep the LORD there in my heart and love with that pure heart.

It is easy to fall into conforming to the world and the outside forces that are running rampant throughout. But we have been given instruction to “not be conformed” to those forces. We are to set aside our own desires and passions and live and love from the inside and our hearts as made pure thanks to the grace of God who resides there.

The Glory of the LORD shines from us as we are exhibiting the Love of Christ. His Glory starts in our heart and emanates from our heart where the LORD resides and has purified. Sharing His love is in obedience to Him and therefor our pure heart is in obedience.

Where is it that you share with the world? Are you an example on the outside only for the world to see? What if you were living according to the Word of God and allowing your obedience to Him shine through you from your heart which is pure thanks to the LORD?

Clean Now to Enter

Did you know of the myth that the high priest would tie a rope around his ankle before entering the Holy of Holies. The myth is that entering is/was so dangerous that if the high priest were to be struck down by God, no one would be able to enter to remove the body. The rope would be used to pull the body out and a new high priest would be selected. Again, this is a myth, but a pretty strong one and fearful for sure.

Fast forward to today. The curtain to the Holy of Holies was torn and now we are all able to enter and communicate directly with God. Think about that, what was once considered so dangerous that an escape plan was mythically created has now been opened to all and fear of death is no longer there. Oh yes, we should still fear God. But our fear should be of His awesome power and glory and not that we cannot speak with Him.

“¹⁹Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, ²⁰by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, ²¹and since we have a great priest over the house of God, ²²let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.” – Hebrews 10:19-22 (ESV)

The curtain was torn at His death and we now have full access to the LORD. You see, we have been cleaned thanks to the shed blood of Jesus on the cross. He died so we do not have to and His blood was sprinkled on us to wash away the sin in our lives so that we do not need the rope around our ankle for an escape plan. We have been welcomed in to the place where we can be with God all on our own. We have been cleaned up so that we can enter.

“²³Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.” – Hebrews 10:23 (ESV)

The LORD is faithful and true. He does not waver in anything. We can and should have full confidence in Him that we can enter knowing that we have been cleaned. We may be sinners, but those sins have been washed away so that we can enter and commune with the LORD. He accepts us as we are and is faithful in His love for us now and forever.

What is your view of your cleanliness? Are you still tying a rope around your ankle for and escape plan? What if you were to realize that you have been cleaned to enter and commune with the LORD and that He accepts you and is faithful from now to forever?

Have Righteous Conduct

Again, I remind that we cannot declare ourselves righteous, that is left solely up to God. I can only take actions that are righteous and in line with the example that Christ has provided for me. In taking those actions, I have to also remember to conduct myself as Jesus would have during His time in this world.

“¹⁰You are witnesses, and God also, how holy and righteous and blameless was our conduct toward you believers. ¹¹For you know how, like a father with his children, ¹²we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.” – 1 Thessalonians 2:10 – 12 (ESV)

Paul and his team were not just representatives of Christ as they worked with the church at Thessalonica, they did so in such a way as to be full examples of Christ. They were righteous and blameless in their actions and conduct. They were respectful and caring and encouraging along the way.

How often have we seen when there is help being provided that the attitude of the helpers is one of authority and matter of fact, and less about just being helpful. Paul was sure to not take on that approach here. He was gracious and did not expect some sort of return from the people. He was only there to lend a hand and guide them in their faith. Yes, there were likely challenging conversations and correcting, yet they were done in love and always in the name and manner of the LORD. As such, Paul and those with him were “holy and righteous and blameless” in their conduct.

Now for me. I have to remember that I am not all knowing, that is left to God. I have to remember to be righteous in my actions which should go without saying. But, I also have to be righteous in my conduct. Like Paul, I have to be respectful and caring and encouraging as I am taking righteous actions. I cannot be the authoritarian with the idea that I am somehow more holy than anyone else. The reality is that I too am a sinner and in need of caring and encouragement. I have to remember the why behind my actions, to bring the gospel to all I encounter and provide love to them in the process. Action without the proper attitude is not helpful. It is important that I am coming from the example of Christ and provide the conduct befitting of Him.

What is your approach to spreading the gospel? Are you the authoritarian bringing the boom to the sinners? What if you approached your actions as Christ, “holy and righteous and blameless” in your conduct as you are caring and encouraging with your actions?