Daily Devotional, Year 2 – JUNE 22 (Love Is Not A Pick-n-Choose Buffet, Part 3: “Heart Purification!”)

By admin On January 26th, 2021

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Daily Devotional, Year 2 – JUNE 22

 

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Love Is Not A Pick-n-Choose Buffet,

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Part 3:

“Heart Purification!”

To read Part 1, click here…February 27th (Love Is Not A Pick-N-Choose Buffet)

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In the first installment of this, Love Is Not A Pick-N-Choose Buffet (click here) devotional, today’s Christianity was compared to an all-you-can-eat buffet in which many church-goers attempt to pick-n-choose what they like or do not like from the Gospel.

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In other words, there are many who simply want a Christianity made only of the softer aspects of the gospel, such as “being kind to others”.

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This would be akin to going to an all-you-can-eat buffet and loading up on dessert and refusing everything else!

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Well, this is nice. But true agape love is comprised of many different facets of truth. You just cannot decide to choose one or two aspects of the Gospel, and refuse the rest. Salvation doesn’t work that way!

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Forain – The Buffet – Wikimedia – US Public Domain

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ANOTHER GOSPEL

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In yesterday’s devotional, Part 2 (click here) of this series, was shown the aspect of our commission to be a “royal priesthood”. And so many gospels today are missing this aspect of love.

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And there is a certain very popular evangelist who promotes this kind of gospel. And he is big on being very emotional and even very, “warm and fuzzy”, as they say. And he constantly speaks of helping those around the world who are in great need. And he almost seems on the verge of tears, as he speaks about Christ’s love for sinners, and our lack of love for God, and the need of Salvation for all. And all this sounds great…on the surface!

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The problem is, this very nice and pleasant man combines this highly emotional gospel with lots of world-loving behavior!

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Evangelist Preaching – Church – Audience hands – Wikimedia – Public Domain

 

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NOT A PICK-N-CHOOSE BUFFET

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The problem with this kind of a gospel is that we just can’t treat the true Gospel as if it’s some sort of a “pick-n-choose” buffet!

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Love is a multi-faceted virtue. Jesus is love.

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We just cannot take one or two facets of His love and ignore the other facets.

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And so, we end up taking a few pleasant aspects of Jesus, and rejecting His other, more stern qualities, simply because they are too self-denying!

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Vegie buffet – cropped – Wikimedia – GNU Free Documentation License

 

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“PURIFY YOUR HEARTS!”

James 4:8

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Now in yesterday’s devotional (click here), our commission to be a royal priesthood was showcased.

.http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:US_Navy_040327-N-1261P-058_Navy_Chaplain,_Lt._Marc_Massie_assigned_to_Naval_Mobile_Construction_Battalion_Seventy_Four_(NMCB-74)_studies_his_Bible_for_an_upcoming_service.jpg

But today’s devotional will highlight the great commission to purify our hearts. This aforementioned evangelist places very little emphasis on the purification of the heart, when speaking to an audience.

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But the Bible doesn’t slight this important aspect of the Gospel. As a matter of fact, this is the greatest work of the Christian’s life!

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To purify our heart is the greatest desire and the supreme accomplishment in a true Believer’s life! 

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Chaplain reads Bible – Wikimedia – US Govt. Public Domain

 

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PAUL’S GREATEST DESIRE

.http://lavistachurchofchrist.org/Pictures/The%20Early%20Church%20Artwork/target8.html

Listen to Paul’s testimony… “Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ…That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death;” Philippians 3:8, 10

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Here is one of the most powerful statements in the Bible! It encapsulates the greatest commission given to humanity, and more specifically, to the individual Christian.

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Paul Shipwrecked – Acts 27:41-44 – www.lavistachurchofchrist.org – Public Domain

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PURIFIED AS CHRIST IS PURE

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Now listen to the Apostle, John… “And every man that hath this hope in Him purifieth himself, even as He (Christ) is pure.” 1st John 3:3

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And so we have two similar statements, one by Paul and one by John. And both of these present the chief desire of every true worshipper of God: to purify the heart and be changed into the image of Jesus Christ.

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John The Apostle – by Alonzo Cano 1635-1637 – wikipedia – public domain

 

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“GOD…WORKS WITHIN”

.https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:US_Navy_100326-N-4774B-066_Chaplain_Lt._Jason_Gregory_reads_bible_verses_on_the_weather_deck_aboard_the_guided-missile_cruiser_USS_Bunker_Hill_(CG_52).jpg

“For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.” Philippians 2:13

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But how is this greatest of all commissions from God to be accomplished? How can a man, woman, or child become changed into the likeness of Jesus?

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Obviously, this is a supernatural work! But God reveals that He is behind the scenes working in a Believer’s heart…“Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:” Philippians 1:6

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US Navy – Chaplain Lt. Jason Gregory reads Bible on weather deck – Wikimedia – US Govt. Public Domain

 

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THE HARVEST WITHIN

.http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:%22Harvest_Legume_%26_Grass_Seed%22_-_NARA_-_514439.tif

So it is God who works in us to bring about this change of heart. Oh yes, when we were first saved, God planted His seed within us. But that seed must grow.

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So then we must become the husbandmen (farmers) who are responsible to make sure that seed will grow and become a fruit-bearing tree of life within our heart! The water of grace of His Spirit, the fertile and weed-free soil of a humble and purified heart, the sunlight of the daily Word of God: these are the elements which cause that seed to grow and prosper within us.

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Harvest Seed (altered picture) – Wikipedia – Public Domain

 

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TOTALLY WRONG FOCUS

.http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Magnifying_glass_on_book_icons

And so, this evangelist really misses the main thrust of what true Christianity is all about.

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Oh yes, he may mention such things every once in a whihttp://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Magnifying_glass_on_book_iconsle. Because if he never even mentions this, then he will be subject to criticism. And so, he briefly mentions these things.

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But this is the great spiritual crisis in Christianity today! And this much-neglected truth should be constantly trumpeted to God’s apostate people!

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Magnifying Glass – Wikimedia – Share-alike License

 

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COMPONENTS OF HEART PURIFICATION

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Yes, and what are the various components of that message?

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To study and contemplate God’s Word.

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To separate from all ungodly associations and corrupt influences.

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To cheerfully suffer God’s many chastisements.

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To become holy in all conduct, even as Christ is holy.

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USMC – Prayer before Bible study – Wikimedia – Public Domain

 

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PHONY LOVE

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And so, as we look at the supposed Christian love within the apostate church-world, just what can we conclude?

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Well, it’s just as Ezekiel revealed… “And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as My people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they show much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness.” Ezekiel 33:31

.THREE DOLLAR BILL - Wikipedia - Public Domain

Yes, we see in the Christian community, very many who make the pretense of searching the Scriptures for truth. And yet, their heart goes after their covetousness.

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And so, their “much love” that they speak of, is as phony as the proverbial three-dollar bill!

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THREE DOLLAR BILL (altered & cropped photo) – Wikipedia – Public Domain

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GOOD NEWS! TIME STILL!

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Now of course, these things do not have to be! God has given us just enough time to turn away from these sins, and begin to truly seek after His godliness… 

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Listen… “In that day a man shall cast his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which they made each one for himself to worship, to the moles and to the bats; To go into the clefts of the ragged rocks, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of His majesty, when He ariseth to shake terribly the earth.” Isaiah 2:20, 21

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Yes, in these last moments of time, God’s people (on an individual basis) will cast away (in heart, not literally) our worldly desires and tinsel-like trinkets, and flee from the wrath to come, hiding ourselves within God’s soul-saving Word.

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USMC – Prayer before Bible study – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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http://www.wikigallery.org/wiki/painting_198722/William-Brassey-Hole/The-sorrow-of-king-DavidTO READ PART 4, CLICK HERE…

JUNE 23 (Love Is Not A Pick-n-Choose Buffet, Part 4: God’s Chastisement!)

David’s sorrow – Wikigallery – Public Domain

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https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:USMC-100506-M-2360J-038.jpg

TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Help me to embrace all the Bible and not just pick-n-choose what I like. Help me to seek after all the qualities and virtues of Jesus and not just some…

Marine Praying – Wikimedia – USMC Public Domain

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https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Question_book_magnify2.svg

READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… “March 1st (A Designer Jesus!)“, or you can also read… February 3rd (Fashionable Religion)

Question book magnify svg – Wikimedia – GNU license

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THE END

 

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TODAY’S FEATURED HEAVENLY SIGN

Info & pics of constellations on this site from Wikipedia & International Astronomical Union (click here)

 

 

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ARK SEEN IN HEAVEN 

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“And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in His temple the ark of His Testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.”  Revelation 11:19

Ark of the Covenant Constellation

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The above verse from Revelation, speaks of God’s Temple in Heaven being opened. But this great constellation, the  Sagittarius Constellation  is actually the constellation of the Ark of the Covenant. So these two events go hand in hand simultaneously. The Ark Constellation, as sketched into this Wikipedia star-chart, is a representation of the heavenly Ark, as God begins to open up the spiritual 

 

concepts of that true Ark to our minds.

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Star-chart from Wikipedia (this Website has taken the liberty to sketch in this Ark Constellation)

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https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Question_book_magnify2.svg

READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… Ark of the Covenant Constellation, Pt. 2: How To Enter The Most Holy Place

Question book magnify svg – Wikimedia – GNU license

 

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http://www.wikigallery.org/wiki/painting_198722/William-Brassey-Hole/The-sorrow-of-king-David

TOMORROW…

JUNE 23 (Love Is Not A Pick-n-Choose Buffet, Part 4: God’s Chastisement!)

David’s sorrow – Wikigallery – Public Domain

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20+ MINUTE AUDIO STUDY IN JEREMIAH 

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ALL ‘NOBLE BEREANS’ (open-minded seekers of Bible truth) ARE ENCOURAGED TO BEGIN FOLLOWING THIS 650+ AUDIO BIBLE STUDY THROUGH THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH EACH DAY ON THIS DAILY DEVOTIONAL.

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THIS STUDY #537 IS PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING…

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above picture: Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.org – Public Domain

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Those who are interested in using photos on this page may click on provided link below each photo, to get to Wikimedia Commons for various licensing details & tags, and all other necessary information on any particular photo. Most tall, narrow photos have been cropped or reduced by this website to make them a better fit on phone screens.

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