purity

22
Apr
2024
Blessed Are Those Who Wash Their Robes

Blessed Are Those Who Wash Their Robes

Revelation 22:14

“Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city.”

Promise of Eternal Life

The book of Revelation unveils vivid imagery and symbolism, revealing God’s ultimate plan for His people and the final judgment of the wicked.

Among these beautiful scenes is the vision of the new Jerusalem—a holy city descending from heaven to be the dwelling place of God and His people.

In this celestial city, sorrow and pain are no more. Death has been conquered, and the old order of things has passed away (Revelation 21:4). The city’s brilliance emanates from the glory of God and the Lamb, banishing darkness forever (Revelation 21:23).

At its heart stands the tree of life, bearing twelve abundant crops of fruit, yielding sustenance every month. Its leaves bring healing to the nations (Revelation 22:2).

Symbolism of the Tree of Life

The tree of life symbolizes God’s abundant provision and blessings for His people. It reminds of Eden, where God placed the first humans and granted them access to this life-giving tree.

Sadly, sin led to their banishment from God’s presence (Genesis 2:9; 3:22-24).

Yet, in the new creation, God restores humanity to its original state of innocence and joy. He extends an invitation: wash your robes, cleanse your hearts, and partake of the tree of life.

Eternal life awaits those who love Him and obey His commands.

Washing Our Robes: The Key to the City

  • How can we claim this promise?
  • How do we enter the celestial city?

The answer lies in washing our robes—symbolic of repentance, forgiveness, and purity.

As we turn from sin, our garments become white as snow (Isaiah 1:18).

“Come now, let us settle the matter,”
    says the Lord.
“Though your sins are like scarlet,
    they shall be as white as snow;
though they are red as crimson,
    they shall be like wool.

Through Christ’s sacrifice, we gain the right to partake of the tree of life and dwell eternally in God’s presence.

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Posted by onthesolidrock in Daily Inspiration
29
Jan
2024
Instruments of Righteousness

Instruments of Righteousness

Romans 6:12 – Therefore, do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires.

Deceptive Allure of Sin

Though Christ has broken sin’s control, its residual influence remains while we’re on earth. If given an inch, sin will seize a mile in our lives. So we must be vigilant guarding our minds and bodies.

Sin employs clever deception – enticing us by omission of consequences and overstating temporary pleasures. We must recognize its tactics rather than blindly cooperate.

Yielding Our Bodies to God

As an act of worship, actively present your body to God daily as an instrument of righteousness, not wickedness. Ask Him to govern your eyes, hands, and speech for holy purposes.

Consciously yielding control protects us from drifting into sinful complacency. Regularly re-consecrate your body to purity and righteousness.

Lord, Guard My Vulnerable Heart

Lord, sin still crouches at my door, desiring to devour me. Daily I confess my weakness and total dependence on Your Spirit to restrain evil desires. Make my body an instrument You wield for righteous purposes.

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Posted by onthesolidrock in Daily Inspiration
31
Dec
2023
Old Yeast

Old Yeast

“Get rid of the old yeast, so that you may be a new unleavened batch—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.” (1 Corinthians 5:7)

Examining Our Hearts

During the Passover feast, God commanded His people to remove all leaven from their homes.

Yeast causes bread to rise, picturing how sin swells up and permeates our lives.

This yearly ritual reminded Israelites to examine their hearts and take sin seriously.

As believers in Jesus, we also must regularly inspect our lives and root out “old leaven” – attitudes and behaviors that displease God.

Christ’s sacrifice frees us from sin’s power, making us new creations. However, we still struggle with remnants of our old nature that lead us astray if left unchecked.

Pride, greed, lust, bitterness, and selfishness can puff us up like yeast if not confronted and confessed.

Getting rid of sinful leaven requires brutal honesty. We must ask God to reveal blind spots and things sabotaging our spiritual growth.

While painful, facing the truth positions our hearts to be purified and transformed by the Holy Spirit’s cleansing fire.

Removing sin restores the sweet fellowship with Jesus that yeast corrodes.

Crumbs of Compromise

It only takes a small amount of yeast to leaven an entire lump of dough. Similarly, “little” sins or compromises spread and damage our whole lives if tolerated.

Believers often excuse gossip, white lies, inappropriate media, anger, or addictions as harmless. But these behaviors grieving the Spirit, have profound consequences if left unchecked.

Rationalizing and downplaying sins gives the enemy footholds. As issues accumulate over time, we become desensitized until flagrant wickedness seems normal.

Yeast is insidious and penetrating. The only solution is to sincerely confess specific sins and turn away from them.

We must remove even small bits of leaven to remain unleavened bread.

Living holy requires vigilance. Regularly evaluating our lives identifies areas needing God’s cleansing fire.

Even after cleansing, we must guard our hearts since sin crouches at the door.

Staying unleavened means promptly repenting when we stumble. God uses our trials to reveal and refine away sinful impurities.

Becoming New

Christ sacrificed Himself as the ultimate Passover Lamb to free us from sin and death.

Now saved by grace, we have a new unleavened identity in Him. Our old selves died on the cross so that we might live free in the Spirit.

However, living into our new natures requires intentionally removing the old leaven of wickedness.

As we increasingly yield control to the Spirit, He empowers us to reject temptations and walk in holiness.

Staying unleavened is only possible through relying on Christ’s strength. Our part is submitting our wills completely to Him.

God is pleased when we actively participate in the process of sanctification. Regular self-examination and repentance keep our lives pure and unleavened for Jesus’ glory.

If you like these daily devotionals; you may be interested in our daily
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YouTube videos.

Posted by onthesolidrock in Daily Inspiration
12
Dec
2023
Heart Transformation

Heart Transformation

Jeremiah 31:33 – “This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time,” declares the Lord. “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.”

In Jeremiah’s time, God’s people focused on external rituals, without sincere love for God. Their hearts remained unchanged. As a result, immorality and idolatry corrupted their society.

Outward religion means nothing without inward transformation.

A sinful heart will inevitably lead to sinful actions. No amount of rule-keeping can substitute for a changed heart.

New Covenant Promise

Through Jeremiah, God promised a new covenant to reunite Israel to Himself.

In this covenant, He would not just give external laws but directly imprint His truth on their inmost being. God would change their hearts to know Him intimately.

God’s Laws in Our Minds

To have God’s law written on our minds means His truth and wisdom shape our thoughts and perspectives.

Our minds become saturated with Scripture and centered on God’s kingdom priorities. We learn to discern right from wrong based on His standards.

The Holy Spirit renews our minds as we immerse ourselves in God’s Word.

Our thought patterns, assumptions, and values align with His truth. Our minds are freed from bondage to sinful ways of thinking. As we fill our minds with His truth, it transforms us.

Renewing Our Minds

Ask the Lord to renew your mind each day through Scripture. Submit your thoughts to Him for cleansing and realignment. Pray for grace to think His thoughts after Him. Let His truth reprogram your mind to reflect Christ.

More foundational than our thoughts is the orientation of our hearts—our motivations, desires, and will.

As we yield to the Holy Spirit, He replaces selfishness and sin with love for God and others.

Our hearts find their full satisfaction in pleasing Christ alone. Loving obedience becomes our joyful response to His abundant grace.

Create in Me a Clean Heart

Ask God to write His truth on the tablet of your heart.

May your deepest desires align fully with His gracious will.

Let your heart eagerly long to obey Him out of love, for His glory and the good of others.

Intimate Relationship

In this new covenant, God declares “I will be their God, and they will be my people.”

More than anything, He desires meaningful relationship with us. As we open our minds and hearts to Him, intimacy grows.

We were created for fellowship with God. Only in Him do our restless souls find purpose and complete fulfillment.

As His beloved children, we have the privilege of walking in personal relationship with the Lord of the universe!

Draw Near to God

Don’t be content with ritual and outward conformity. Draw near to God today. Immerse your mind in His Word. Yield your heart to the Spirit’s transforming work. He promises to meet you there with grace to renew your whole being.

If you like these daily devotionals; perhaps you would be interested in our daily
“One Minute with God”
YouTube videos. Check them out!

Hour Glass
Posted by onthesolidrock in Daily Inspiration, Faith, Holiness
08
Nov
2023
Pursuing Holiness

Pursuing Holiness

2 Corinthians 7:1 – Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.

God pours out astonishing promises on His beloved children – forgiveness, guidance, eternal life! Since we have these assurances, we’re empowered to pursue holiness.

Removing Contaminants

We must examine our hearts and lives, asking God to reveal anything tainting our body or spirit. Sin and impurity grieve the Holy Spirit. As they’re exposed, we must repent.

Training for Godliness

Let’s cultivate holy habits and influences that will train our hearts God-ward – Scripture meditation, prayer, worship, Biblical community, and more. These shape us into Christlikeness.

Reverence for God

Our motivation is profound reverence for the holy God.

We yearn to live in a manner pleasing and honoring to Him who saved us at infinite cost. By His grace, holiness can flourish.

Posted by onthesolidrock in Daily Inspiration