Clean Inside and Out
by Dr. Paul Chappell
“Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah.”
Psalm 24:3–6
Today we look back on the life and ministry of Charles Haddon Spurgeon with great appreciation and respect, but during his lifetime he was frequently the target of bitter attacks. His uncompromising stand for truth never wavered, and many people criticized him for not trimming his message to better fit the prevailing opinions of the day. It is said he was threatened that if he did not stop preaching against certain sins his reputation would be ruined. Spurgeon replied, “Write all you know about me across the heavens.”
The only way we can make a statement like that is if we are living in close fellowship with God, not just in public but in private as well. When David wrote of the person who was able to enter God’s presence, he highlighted the importance of both inward and outward righteousness in the eyes of the Lord. It is not enough just to adhere to outward standards where our conduct can be seen by others. We must also be right and clean on the inside.
Praise God that the blood of Jesus cleanses us from every sin within, and the righteousness of Jesus is applied to our account before God. However, to grow in our relationship with God and to keep a right testimony before others, we must take care that we are living in such a way that our lives—private and public—are in accordance with the forgiveness God has already given us. We must not hide sin or disobedience within our hearts. The greatest dangers and temptations we face do not come from without, but from within.
Psalm 24:3–6
Today we look back on the life and ministry of Charles Haddon Spurgeon with great appreciation and respect, but during his lifetime he was frequently the target of bitter attacks. His uncompromising stand for truth never wavered, and many people criticized him for not trimming his message to better fit the prevailing opinions of the day. It is said he was threatened that if he did not stop preaching against certain sins his reputation would be ruined. Spurgeon replied, “Write all you know about me across the heavens.”
The only way we can make a statement like that is if we are living in close fellowship with God, not just in public but in private as well. When David wrote of the person who was able to enter God’s presence, he highlighted the importance of both inward and outward righteousness in the eyes of the Lord. It is not enough just to adhere to outward standards where our conduct can be seen by others. We must also be right and clean on the inside.
Praise God that the blood of Jesus cleanses us from every sin within, and the righteousness of Jesus is applied to our account before God. However, to grow in our relationship with God and to keep a right testimony before others, we must take care that we are living in such a way that our lives—private and public—are in accordance with the forgiveness God has already given us. We must not hide sin or disobedience within our hearts. The greatest dangers and temptations we face do not come from without, but from within.
Today’s Growth Principle:
We will not long remain clean outwardly unless we first carefully guard our purity inwardly.
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