Pure

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Job 8:6 False Prosperity

If you were pure and upright, surely now He would awake you, and prosper your rightful dwelling place. Job 8:6

Being prosperous is something that most people dream of and aim for. While all will aim for it, many, in their own minds, will never really make it there. In order to be considered prosperous, most believe that they must own a large home, have several cars and a very large income with no bills. And all of this must be at least as much as their neighbor has or more, regardless of how much that is.

Bildad tells Job that if he were really pure and upright God would make him prosperous right away.

Belief that prosperity makes one better. It is all about having more physical things, rather than having good character. Having more tends to be seen as having greater favor.

Inside the church this false belief has crept in and taken over the mindset of many believers. Along with seeking bigger, better and more things, many also believe that if one is faithful to God, He will automatically give them all of those things. Although God can bless a believer with many physical things in this life, He does not always do that. God only gives a believer what is best for him.

Physical prosperity is seen as a sign of one’s holiness bringing on God’s great favor, and those not prosperous are seen as failing in their walk with God.

Many believers have been blessed with great prosperity only to forget about God and their original mission to serve God. They begin to serve the things rather than God.

One must believe in and follow God, trusting God with all that God provides, whether little or great. God may or may not provide a lot of physical things, but either way He provides true life and true prosperity.

You may or may not have a lot of things in this life. One thing that you can have and is free is forgiveness of sins and an abundant life that will last for eternity.

Do not allow yourself to be caught up in the false belief that following God will automatically make you physically rich. That is a choice God makes based on what is best for you personally. The things of this world will pass away, but the life Jesus provides will last for eternity and nothing is better for you than that.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will know the riches of God’s grace in your life; that you will see how prosperous you are with the eternal life God is giving you; that you will seek God above all things; and that you will seek to be like Jesus, rather than like the world.

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Deuteronomy 23:9 Stay Away From The Impure

When you encamped against your enemies, keep away from anything impure. Deuteronomy 23:9

In every nation there will be times that battles will occur for the military to take care of. During the battle the soldiers must remain focused upon their mission. Soldiers must be careful not to allow themselves to become distracted with anything that could prevent them from accomplishing their mission. Along with staying focused, they must also keep themselves in good health.

Staying physically and mentally focused will allow them to be ready to take a stand against the enemy in the defensive or offensive times.

Moses told the Israelites that when they are going up against their enemies, they must stay away from anything impure.

Believers are soldiers in God’s army, though the battle is not a physical one with guns and other physical weapons, but a spiritual battle. The battle is against spiritual forces and sin that arises up in the life of the believer to take him out and destroy him.

As with any battle there will be times when the believer is encamped across from the enemy waiting for a time of direct conflict. One must be prepared mentally and physically for the battle that will come and must remained focused upon the mission staying away from anything impure or sinful.

Any time a believer allows sin in his life, he weakens his defense against the enemy and allows the enemy to gain territory. With sin in his life, he is no longer focused upon God, His word and the enemy, but upon self and sin. The world will see that sin or weakness and find a way to strike at that vulnerable area in the life of the believer.

Keeping away from sin allows God to rise up and destroy the plans of the enemy.

There will be times in your life in which there will be a lull in the battle as you are encamped near the enemy. Do not allow yourself to become unfocused and to allow sin in your life.

Keep yourself away from anything impure so that you will be ready to fight the enemy on the day of battle. Stay focused upon God and His word and His mission for your life. God will fight your battles when you do not allow sin in your life that will distract you from His plan for your life.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will stay focused upon God and His word in times of battle; that God will give you strength to stay away from all sin in your life; and that God will give you strength and direction in defeating the enemies in your life.

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Numbers 19:22 Getting Dirty

Anything that an unclean person touches becomes unclean, and anyone who touches it becomes unclean till evening. Numbers 19:22

Most people do not like to be physically dirty and try to avoid it. Some do not mind getting physically dirty, if it is for work, but will quickly clean up as soon as possible.

Mechanics, who work on cars, will often getting extremely dirty and anything that they touch will also get dirty and greasy. The grease is passed onto other items, which in turn will get other people greasy and dirty if they touch them.

God told the Israelites that if a ceremonially unclean person touches anything, it becomes unclean and that if anyone clean touches that unclean item, he becomes unclean.

As the world focuses on being physically clean, the majority of the world ignores spiritual uncleanness. The world is expert at creating and promoting sinful items and activities. Focus is placed upon self-pleasure over honoring God.

Sadly, many in the church will purchase the sinful items of the world and participate in the world’s sinful activities. Believers will allow themselves to be made unclean, rather than fleeing sin and being holy.

God is pure and holy and expects His people to be the same. Jesus paid the price for sin so that one who believes could be made clean. Repentance will allow a person to be made clean.

Once made clean, one must not go back to the sin and touch it again. Rather than touching sin and being made unclean, he should flee the sin and turn to God. Focus should be made on serving God with all of his heart, soul, mind and strength, rather than pleasing oneself for a season in sin and getting dirty.

Just as one avoids physical dirt, the believer should avoid spiritual dirt in his life.

The world has a billion ways to get you to touch something and get dirty. This can be found in things that you can see, touch, taste, do, and hear. Satan is out to get you to get dirty in whatever method possible.

You may not be able to avoid physical dirt in your life, but you can avoid spiritual dirt–sin. Do not allow yourself to get caught up in the dirty, sinful ways of this fallen world. Since Jesus has cleansed you, live your life holy and pure and remain clean before God.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will be cleansed by the blood of Jesus of any sin in your life; that you will flee to God when sin approaches you; and that you will refuse to sin against God by touching the sin of this world.