STAYING CLEAN

I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. Psalm 119:11

During a business trip to Philadelphia, a man walked down Broad Street toward City Hall each morning to catch the subway. Each day he passed a long line of people waiting for something. They were a cross-section of humanity in age, ethnic origin, and appearance. After wondering about it for 3 days, he asked a man on the sidewalk why al1 these people
were standing in line. He said me they were on probation or parole after breaking the law and had to take a daily drug test to show that they were staying clean.

He said this struck him as a vivid illustration of my need to stay spiritually clean before God.

When the psalmist pondered how he could live a pure life, he concluded that the key was to consider and obey God's teaching. "Your Word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You. Blessed are You, O LORD! Teach me Your statutes. ... I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your Word" (Ps. 119:11-12, 16).

In the light of God's Word, we see our sin, but we also see God's love in Christ. "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9).

Above all things we should read the Bible to be wise, believe it to be safe, and practice it to be holy.

The Christian should be a happy person, full of spiritual optimism and bubbling over with the joy of the Lord. We are to "rejoice evermore" and "in everything give thanks!" Confident of God's perfect watch-care over us, we should constantly paint rainbows on life's clouds with our smiles of holy satisfaction and Christian victory!

A little girl, who had been brought up in an environment of legalistic severity and dour piety, once went to the country for a visit. There she viewed the farm animals with delight. Coming to the stable, she was permitted to pet several well-domesticated horses. Looking at one who was rather lean, she ventured the following childish opinion, "Oh, horsie, you must be a very good Christian; you have such a long face!" We smile; yet what a sad commentary this little incident affords on the child's warped spiritual perspective. It may seem a paradox, but the most serious Christians I know have smiling, happy faces!

John Bunyan penned these thoughts on the subject: "The truly happy man was born in the city of regeneration, in the parish of repentance. He owns the largest state in the country of Christian contentment; yet wears the plain garments of humility. He has 'meat to eat that the world knows not of.' He has Gospel submission in his conduct, due order in his affection, sound peace in his conscience, and sanctifying love and joy in his soul."
It is significant that one of the earliest written books of the Bible underscores the truth that even in chastening, the joy and peace of the believer abides, for we read in the book of Job: “"Blessed is the man whom God corrects” (Job 5:17).

When people look at you, do they declare: "The Lord has made (him) joyful" (Ezra 6:22)!

As Ada Hoelscher wrote, "The song in the Christian's heart should repeat itself in his face!"

Peter and John were in danger. The religious leaders in Jerusalem opposing the gospel had warned them to stop their missionary efforts (Acts 4:18). When the apostles reported this to the other believers, they immediately held a prayer meeting.

What happened next is thrilling. The believers first praised God. Then they asked for boldness that they might continue the work. The results were dramatic. The house shook, and the believers were filled with the Spirit. They boldly witnessed (vv.31,33), and enjoyed spiritual unity (v.32). They gave unselfishly to those in need (vv.32,34-37).

I don't know about you but I never felt a building shake at a prayer meeting, but I have seen God's power at work. When trying to help repair a broken life or burdensome situation I've asked those involved to pray. Sometimes they refused. Other times they mumbled carefully worded prayers. The meeting failed.

But occasionally someone would pray in earnest. Almost immediately the atmosphere would change. Confession and forgiveness soon replaced charges and countercharges.

When we pray sincerely, praising God and presenting Him with petitions that seek His glory, great things happen. But first we must pray from the heart.

The arctic polar bear feeds almost entirely on seals. To enjoy such a meal, he sometimes resorts to a cunning bit of trickery. If the hole in the ice through which the seal gets his food is not too far from the edge of open water, the polar bear will take a deep breath, slip underwater, and swim to the seal's fishing hole. He will then imitate a fish by scratching lightly on the underside of the ice. When the seal hears this sound, he dives in for a quick supper, only to find himself suddenly caught in the huge, hungry embrace of his predator.

The devil entices us in a similar way. He baits us with some seemingly harmless pleasure and disguises the ugliness of sin with something that looks or sounds appealing. Then, when we've succumbed to the temptation, he catches us in his trap.
Christians have no excuse for being taken in by the deception of the enemy. We can put on the armor of God, and with the "shield of faith . . . quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one" (Eph. 6:16).