JUN 30, EVENING

1 Peter 1:22
Memorise 2 Timothy 2:22-26
“when we serve, we must serve with a pure heart”

Matthew 5:8 says, “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.” Who are the pure in heart? The heart of sinful man can never be pure on its own. By ourselves, we can never see God and can never come into His holy presence. However, 1 Peter 1:22 explains how we may purify our souls. It is through “obeying the truth through the Spirit”. This truth is God’s Word, His precious Gospel which is “the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth” (Romans 1:16). By obeying His Gospel and accepting Jesus Christ as our Saviour through the Holy Spirit, the impurity in our hearts is washed away by the blood of Christ and His perfect righteousness is imputed in us. Our hearts become pure and we can then “see God” and “come boldly unto the throne of grace” (Hebrews 4:16). After our hearts are purified, we should then obey Jesus’ commandment to love one another; as He has loved us (John 13:34). This love for our fellow brethren in Christ should be “unfeigned” which is not a false selfish love, but fervent. It comes forth from a pure heart which has pure intentions. It loves not for anything in return or for selfish gains like popularity. Through our love for one another, Jesus tell us “by this shall all men know that ye are my disciples” (John 13:35).

When we serve, we must serve with a pure heart. A pure heart is, first and foremost, a regenerated heart which has received Christ into it. We need to check our salvation to ensure that we are truly saved. This is the prerequisite for serving in purity. Secondly, we need to make sure our hearts are not entertaining sin. We need to “flee also youthful lusts” by purging sin and worldliness from our lives, and “follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart” (2 Timothy 2:22). Lastly, to serve in purity, we need to check that our love for our brethren is “unfeigned” and is pure in motive. All these steps can be done by studying God’s Word as it is “sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12). We need the Word of God to purify our hearts for service.

Thought: Is your heart pure in its love for your fellow brethren?
Prayer: Purify my heart with Thy Word, O Lord.