It always catches my attention when I read the same thing in two different places. Here’s the recent reading from 1 John:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure. (1 John 3.2, 3, ESV)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n A promise with a \u201cso what?\u201d \u201cEveryone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.\u201d Purifies himself\u2026 Didn’t we just see that in 2 Corinthians<\/a>?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Therefore go out from their midst, <\/em>and be separate from them, says the Lord, <\/em>and touch no unclean thing; <\/em>then I will welcome you, <\/em>and I will be a father to you, <\/em>and you shall be sons and daughters to me, <\/em>says the Lord Almighty.\u201d <\/em>Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God. (2 Corinthians 6.17 – 7.1, ESV)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Same setup: a promise of God\u2019s presence <\/em>in 2 Corinthians; a promise of his appearing <\/em>in 1 John. Therefore: \u201clet us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Intentionality:\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Life requires intention and paying attention<\/a>, as I wrote recently. <\/p>\n\n\n\n 1 <\/sup>\u00a0Blessed are the undefiled in the way, Who walk in the law of the LORD! It always catches my attention when I read the same thing in two different places. Here’s the recent reading from 1 John: Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as … Continue reading Purifying ourselves…<\/span>
2 <\/sup>\u00a0Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, Who seek Him with the whole heart!
3 <\/sup>\u00a0They also do no iniquity; They walk in His ways. (Psalm 119.1 – 3, NKJV)<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"