Private Purity leads to Public Power

 




"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God" (Matthew 5:8).

Private purity is the quality of being free from sin, corruption, or anything that defiles or dishonors God. It is a personal and inward commitment to obey God's commands and follow His will. Public power is the ability to influence others, to lead them, to serve them, and to glorify God through one's words and actions. It is an outward and visible manifestation of God's grace and authority.

The relationship between private purity and public power is one of cause and effect. Private purity is the source of public power, because it enables one to have a close and intimate relationship with God, who is the ultimate source of all power. When one is pure in heart, one can see God, hear His voice, and receive His guidance and blessing. When one is pure in motive, one can act with integrity, honesty, and humility, and avoid the pitfalls of pride, greed, and selfishness. When one is pure in conduct, one can demonstrate love, kindness, and mercy, and avoid the evils of hatred, violence, and injustice.

Private purity is not only the source of public power, but also the safeguard of it. Public power can be easily corrupted or misused, if one is not careful to maintain one's purity. History is full of examples of leaders who started well, but ended badly, because they compromised their purity and fell into sin. Private purity protects one from the temptations and pressures that come with public power, and helps one to use it wisely and faithfully, for God's glory and not one's own.

Therefore, private purity is essential for anyone who wants to have a powerful impact for Christ in the world, whether in the family, the workplace, the community, or the church. As Jesus said, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God" (Matthew 5:8). And as Paul wrote, "For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power" (1 Corinthians 4:20). Let us, then, pursue private purity, so that we may have public power, and use it for God's purposes and praise.

Prayer:

Lord, we thank You for the gift of private purity, which enables us to have a close and intimate relationship with You, the ultimate source of all power. We ask You to help us to keep our hearts pure, our motives pure, and our conduct pure, so that we may see You, hear You, and follow You in all that we do.

Lord, we thank You for the opportunity of public power, which enables us to influence others, to lead them, to serve them, and to glorify You through our words and actions. We ask You to help us to use our power wisely and faithfully, for Your glory and not our own.

Lord, we thank You for the challenge of private purity and public power, which enables us to grow in grace and in the knowledge of You, the only true God. We ask You to help us to pursue private purity, so that we may have public power, and use it for Your purposes and praise.

In Jesus' name we pray,
Amen.
                       ***

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

God our Place of Safety

Image
  Psalms 62:8 CEV‬ Trust God, my friends, and always tell him each of your concerns. God is our place of safety. Let's delve deeper into Psalm 62:8: 1. Trust God: This phrase emphasizes the importance of faith and reliance on God. Trusting God means acknowledging His sovereignty, wisdom, and goodness. It involves surrendering our worries and fears to Him, knowing that He is in control. 2. Always tell Him each of your concerns: God invites us to share our hearts with Him openly. We can pour out our worries, anxieties, and joys before Him. Prayer becomes a powerful way to communicate with God, expressing our deepest feelings and seeking His guidance. 3. God is our place of safety: Here, God is portrayed as our refuge, a safe haven where we find protection, comfort, and peace. When life feels chaotic or uncertain, we can run to Him for shelter. He shields us from harm and provides security. In summary, Psalm 62:8 encourages us to trust God wholeheartedly, communicate with Him h
Read more

Our fears are kept in a bottle

Image
  Psalms 56:8 CEV‬ You have kept record of my days of wandering. You have stored my tears in your bottle and counted each of them. In this psalm, David is facing adversity and persecution. He pleads to God for mercy and protection from his enemies. Despite the challenges he faces, David maintains his trust in God. Here are some key points from Psalm 56:8: 1. God's Care and Compassion: The imagery of God collecting tears in a bottle highlights His deep concern for His people. Tears represent our pain, sorrow, and vulnerability. God not only sees our tears but also treasures them. He doesn't ignore our suffering; instead, He collects and remembers every tear shed. 2. Days of Wandering: David acknowledges that life can be like wandering—a journey filled with uncertainty, trials, and hardships. Yet, even during these wandering days, God is attentive to our struggles. He keeps a record of our experiences, both joyful and painful. 3. Counting Each Tear: The idea that God counts
Read more

Keys to being useful to God

Image
Psalms 57:10-11 CEV‬ Your love reaches higher than the heavens; your loyalty extends beyond the clouds. 1. Know you are loved by God. Worship Him steadfastly: God uses you because He loves you greatly, as David says "For great is your love, reaching to the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies" (Psalm 57:10). Worship Him steadfastly with your gifts publicly and privately, in good times and bad (Psalm 57:7-9). 2. Honor God in your life. Desire His glory: Make it your ultimate desire to exalt God and let His glory be over all the earth (Psalm 57:11), just as Jesus taught to pray "hallowed be your name" (Matthew 6:9). 3. Do what the Father is doing, not your own plans: Like Jesus who could do nothing by Himself but only what He saw the Father doing (John 5:19), try to discern God's plans and join in rather than initiating your own.  4. Do good works as evidence of faith, but don't earn salvation by them: Those who have done good will rise to
Read more