Tag: blameless

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Pure & Blameless?

6 I wash my hands in innocence, and go about thy altar, O LORD,

7 singing aloud a song of thanksgiving, and telling all thy wondrous deeds.

Psalm 26:6,7

Dove soap may leave you with softer, smoother skin after washing, but it leaves a nasty after-taste in your mouth. I was about 10 years old when my mother caught me playing a game with friends we were visiting in Colorado. The game was to say as many dirty words as you could, and for each word the other guy to your right would slug you in the arm. The more you cussed, the more you got hit. Pretty stupid, isn’t it? Well, the other kids talked me into playing, and sure enough, I got caught.

My mother didn’t hear the horrible things the other kids said, she only heard me as she came up behind us without being noticed. Moms are good at that sort of thing. I actually thought I was winning the game as the kid next to me began to hit me harder and harder, and faster and faster. He was actually trying to get me to shut up, as he saw my mother approaching. I thought I was going to lose my left ear as my mother grabbed it and pulled me off to the bathroom to wash my mouth out with soap.

Don’t you just hate how you feel when you know you’ve let the Lord down in your sinful behavior? I’m glad Jesus doesn’t wash our mouths out with soap, once was enough for me. Yet, how many times since then have I failed to honor God with my mouth in other ways? St. James reminds us our mouths should be vessels of honor…

“From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.” (James 3:10)

And, Jesus tells us what comes from our mouths is what comes from our hearts…

“…it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.” (Matthew 15:11)

In Psalm 26 we hear the voice of Jesus proclaiming his innocence before the LORD’s Altar and having washed His hands before God. While Jesus is the only one who can claim such innocence before God, we too are called to be “blameless” before our God…

“For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.” (Ephesians 1:4)

Through the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit, imparted to us by God to cleanse our hearts and make us pure and blameless, we too can pray as Jesus did in Psalm 26. We too can “sing aloud a song of thanksgiving”, and “love the habitation of thy house, and the place where thy glory dwells.” Our prayer in Psalm 26 should be to wash our hands before the LORD’s Altar, which means to repent, and to say, “But as for me, I walk in my integrity; redeem me, and be gracious to me.” (Psalm 26:11).

Nothing in me felt pure that day in Colorado, not even my mouth after all the Dove soap. In fact, I felt dirtier than ever for falling to such peer pressure. What about you? Is your heart pure before God today, or does your heart convict you? Won’t you take your conviction to Jesus and let him wash you? Jesus will do better than just washing your mouth out with soap, He’ll cleanse you through and through. Repent and He will make you holy and blameless before Him.

Shalom,

Pastor Brad

image credit: http://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/Mom-Arrested-for-Washing-Kids-Mouth-With-Soap–64112132.html

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Show What You Know

“Do all things without complaining and disputing, 15 that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,”

Philippians 2:14-15

This might be a bit controversial but hang with me. I think the most needed thing in our world today isn’t necessarily more people who know about Jesus…but more people who ‘show’ Jesus. Are you still with me? Let me explain.

Knowing Jesus is everything, but if it’s really everything to us we’ll show it in the way we live. St. Paul had already told the Philippians to “work out” their salvation, “with fear and trembling”. Then, he told them how to live as believers that make a difference in perverse world. We’re called to live holy lives that make a difference.

Christians, like it or not, are called to be different from the world. Complaining and arguing aren’t winsome in anyone, especially in people who are to be “blameless and harmless”. Sadly, churches are full of members who complain, grumble, and pretty much live like everyone else. It’s as if their faith makes no difference in their lives.

Right now you’re probably saying, “Yes Brad, but aren’t churches supposed to be hospitals for sinners? After all, we’re only human.” You’re right. But, there comes a time when we who follow Jesus must get serious about being intentional disciples who allow the power of the resurrection to transform us into lights that shine brightly in the darkness.

I told you this might be controversial. Right now you might be thinking that you’re not good enough, to be the kind of believer Paul describes. Don’t lose heart. Notice that he calls us to be “blameless”, not perfect. Blameless isn’t an excuse to not be transformed. Surrendering to Jesus’ transforming power shows how much we value His forgiveness. Here’s a link to a song by Dara McLean to help you think about what it means to be blameless, and forgiven: http://www.bing.com/search?q=Blameless+Dara+Maclean+Video&FORM=R5FD1

We can’t be as perfect as Jesus, but we can have hearts that perfectly love Him and are transformed by his resurrection power. And, the extent to which we live out of perfect hearts, our motives will be blameless. You see, the difference isn’t in what we know of Jesus, but in what we show of Jesus. Are you living in the power of His resurrection? It’s what makes all the difference.

Remember, Christ is risen…and so are you!

Grace & Peace,

+Pastor Brad

Prayer

Lord Jesus, if there is anything in me that is not surrendered to you, let me give it to you now. Tune my heart to perfectly love you, that I may live as your light to a dark and lost world. Amen. Alleluia!

Image credit: http://www.daramaclean.com/updates/behind-song-blameless-62686