Wednesday's focus was to purify our hearts from sin and evil. Read the first section of James 4; there are treasures and instructions to reap from there as well, not just from the section in our reading.
Arguments, frustrations come from evil desires within us; in essence, not getting our way. We fight because our way is always better... so we think!
God is bringing us (and by us, I mean “me”) to a place of purity and digging for sinful and evil desires we do not even know we have. We are not alone. David, in Psalm 139, prays for God to search his heart and to see if there is any offensive way in him and for God to lead him in the way he should go.
Purification starts with a willingness from us to ask God the same question and with the bravery to confront what he might reveal.
We may find that our desires haven’t been fulfilled because as James suggests we are asking with wrong motives; the intent is to receive so as to please ourselves not glorify God. He reminds us that the things we indulge in, however insignificant, can still create friendship with the world and enmity against God. We cannot have fellowship with both. We have to choose.
God’s love for us is so deep He will not share us with anyone especially his adversary. And the Spirit within us desires we love the Father back with the same jealousy.
So what are some things we must repent from? For me, it is entertaining ungodly things, being double-minded, judging others, laughing at things I should weep at.
Let’s draw near to God and ask Him to make us clean. I am confident that if we come to Jesus with the same humility as the man with leprosy we read about in Mark 1:40-41, he is willing to make us clean. Jesus, with compassion, will reach his hand out to us, touch us and say “I am willing. Be clean!”
Scripture References: John 9:8-9; James 4:7-10; Mark 1:40-41; Psalm 130:3-8
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