TO THE PURE, ALL THINGS ARE PURE

Purity of heart is of great importance in our Christian work and its strongly recommended in our service to God. Everything we do that is connected with every-day life is a product of how we see things and the nature of our heart, whether right or wrong, good or evil. Purity of heart and sound doctrine are inseparable. So the way we see things is determined by the kind of messages we listen to, the circle we hang with, the books we read, the discipline we observe and the change we embrace. They are the tools that programme our mind and heart with either evil thought pattern and impurity or good and healthy thought pattern.

Reference: Titus 1:15 New Living Translation (NLT) 'Everything is pure to those whose hearts are pure. But nothing is pure to those who are corrupt and unbelieving, because their minds and consciences are corrupted.'

When negative and impure thoughts start building up and seem to take control of someone's emotions, their mind will also be infected or influenced by corruption over time. They'll start thinking and seeing everything about life from the wrong angle or perspective. They will never see the best in others, instead they'll always see others' faults, concentrate on their shortcomings, criticise others easily and read the wrong meaning in every encounter they have with people. Sometimes, when people are doing well, they'll suspect them as evil doers because to them, they must be doing something fishy to have any level of success. So their assumption about others is based on corrupt mind.

People with this mindset don't easily believe that others can do anything right, without having skeleton in the cupboard. So they wait for the day to catch the good guy, and once they see anything that looks like the person has done something wrong, they rejoice and celebrate because their curiosity is satisfied. This is a wrong mindset. No wonder the Bible says that nothing is pure to those who are corrupt and unbelieving because their minds and consciences are corrupted. What must you do to address such condition, even as a Christian?

Although you've done nothing to receive your salvation, apart from accepting and declaring Jesus as your saviour and Lord, you must do something to ensure you have the mind of Christ. This shows that our salvation only guarantees our position in Christ, but not the condition of our heart. So what is that thing you must do to establish a consistent pure heart condition? You must renew your mind. Romans 12:2 (NIV) says, 'Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.' When you study and receive God's Word into your Spirit, He wants you to utilise it. In other words, you must water it as a seed and nurture it in your heart. That way, it has the ability to reprogramme your mind, transform your mindset and position it to see differently.

By taking the Word daily and storing it in your heart, it will saturate your thought process and condition your imagination to always think, process God's idea and see things the way God sees them, until you begin to express them in your actions. The Word of God resets your mind and keeps it set on things that are above, not on worldly and corrupt views (see Colossians 3:2 NIV). Of course there are many things that happen in this world and around you which can easily influence your mind and emotions negatively but the only way to rise above them and maintain a pure thought is by inviting and meditating on the Word.

Maintaining a pure heart or mindset in life is highly dependent on the voice you've chosen to trust and listen to, the messages and instructions you apply, the environment you expose yourself to, and the association you keep. Believe me, it's not always about your knowledge in life; its about your mindset. The right mindset is greater than knowledge. This is because there are many situations where knowledge has failed but the right mindset still handled things aright. What is this right mindset? Its is the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16 NLT). To have and develop the mind of Christ, always listen to and meditate on the Word of God.

Scripture Reading - Proverbs 4:23; Philippians 4:8; Ephesians 4:22-24; Timothy 1:7.

Exuberant Declaration: I belong to Christ and I set my mind on everything that is pure and beneficial. I have the mind of Christ, which is the mindset of the just. Therefore, I focus on higher things daily; I see the best in life and in others and I live the higher life in Christ. Hallelujah!