The Lord Requires Purity - Ezra 6:20
INTRODUCTION
Many things change from the Old Testament to the New Testament, but some themes are consistent in both. One such theme is that the Lord desires to use things and people that are pure. The Lord commanded His people in the Old Testament to make sure that the things in the tabernacle were purified (Leviticus 8:15). He also commanded that His servants be purified (Ezra 6:20). In the New Testament, the apostle Paul confirms the continuation of this theme by saying that "pureness" approved him as a minister of God (2 Corinthians 6:4-6). God still requires that those who serve strive to live pure and holy lives. Impurities hinder the Lord’s effectiveness in our lives.
DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS
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(For smaller children) You would not want to eat out of a bowl that had dirt in it. You would wash it first. The Bible compares our hearts to vessels or containers. Our hearts need to be clean so God will want to use us to help others (2 Timothy 2:20-21).
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Do you desire to serve the Lord? Do you want to please Him? Do you strive to live a life that is free from the corruptions of this world so that you might better serve Him?
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How should we, as servants of the Lord, strive for purity in our daily walk with the Lord? How can this increase the Lords effectiveness in our lives?
PRAYER NEEDS
- Ask the Lord to give you a desire to serve Him in purity.
- Ask God to show you the things that displease Him.
HYMN
Take Time to Be Holy
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