DRAWING NEAR
June 6
Receiving the Word in Purity
"Putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness
. . . receive the word" (James 1:21).
When the psalmist said, "I have restrained my feet from every evil
way, that I may keep Thy word" (Ps. 119:101), he was acknowledging a
key principle of spiritual growth: you must set aside sin if you
expect to benefit from God's Word. Peter was expressing the same
thought when he said, "Putting aside all malice and all guile and
hypocrisy and envy and all slander, like newborn babes, long for the
pure milk of the word, that by it you may grow in respect to
salvation" (1 Pet. 2:1-2). Likewise, James admonished us to put off
sin and receive the Word (James 1:21).
Neither James nor Peter were addressing unbelievers, because without
Christ, people have no capacity to set sin aside or receive God's
Word. But we as Christians are characterized by our ability to do
both, and must continually purify our lives through confession of
sin, repentance, and right choices. That's why Paul said, "Just as
you presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness,
resulting in further lawlessness, so now present your members as
slaves to righteousness, resulting in sanctification" (Rom. 6:19).
The Greek word translated "putting aside" in James 1:21 originally
meant taking off dirty, soiled clothes. "Filthiness" translates a
Greek word that was used of moral vice as well as dirty clothes. Its
root word was sometimes used of ear wax, which impedes a person's
hearing. Similarly, sin impedes reception of the Word. "Wickedness"
speaks of any evil intent or desire. Together they stress the
importance of setting aside all evil actions and intentions.
Simply stated, you should never presume on God's grace by approaching
His Word with unconfessed sin. David prayed, "Keep back Thy servant
from presumptuous [deliberate] sins; let them not rule over me; then
I shall be blameless" (Ps. 19:13). He wanted to be pure before the
Lord. I pray that you share his desire and will always receive the
Word in purity.
Suggestions for Prayer:
Memorize Psalm 19:14. Make it your prayer as you study God's Word.
For Further Study:
Read Colossians 3:5-17.
What does Paul admonish you to put off? Put on? Why is it
important to heed his admonitions?
Drawing Near, Copyright 1993 John F. MacArthur, Jr.
All rights reserved. Used by permission.
http://www.gty.org
~~~
Psalm 19:14
14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be
acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer.
Colossians 3:5-17
5 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth:
fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness,
which is idolatry.
6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons
of disobedience,
7 in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.
8 But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath,
malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth.
9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with
his deeds,
10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according
to the image of Him who created him,
11 where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor
uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all
and in all.
12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender
mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering;
13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone
has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you
also must do.
14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of
perfection.
15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you
were called in one body; and be thankful.
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom,
teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and
spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the
Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
These devotions are posted with permission from John MacArthur's
first (1993) devotional work, _Drawing Near_, and they are also sent
out daily for free to several folks via e-mail.
In addition, John's second (1997) devotional, _Strength for Today_,
is also available free via e-mail only. _Strength for Today_ follows
the same format as what you have seen here from _Drawing Near_, but
with different monthly themes.
If you would like to receive daily devotions via e-mail from either
of these series, just let me know (via e-mail), and I will gladly add
you to the list(s) of your choice.
You can hear John MacArthur daily via the Internet by visiting:
http://www2.oneplace.com/Ministries/Grace_to_You/
and
http://www.gty.org.uk/
You may email John MacArthur in care of Grace to You at:
letters@gty.org
NOTE for those of you reading via newsgroups: If you wish to reach
me, please contact me via e-mail for quickest results.
In Christ,
Peter
Peter G. Chase :: Columbus, Ohio, USA
pchase@wowway.com
STOP! Who do you think Jesus is?
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There is a living God. He has spoken in His word. He means just what he says, and will do all that He has promised. - Hudson Taylor
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