READ:
MATTHEW 5:1-8
If you want
to maintain fellowship with the thrice-Holy God, you must be holy. God is
light; in Him there is no darkness at all. It is essential that every child of
God knows that whoever desires to follow Jesus Christ must be as pure as light.
Anything short of absolute purity is not acceptable. Those of us who are
offspring of a Holy God must ourselves be holy. “For I say to you, that unless
your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees; you
will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:20). Many
people ask: why does God demand holiness and righteousness on the part of His
children? Why does He want us to be as perfect as He is? There several reasons
for this: to have fellowship with God, there is an old adage which says, “Birds
of the same feather flock together.” If we desire to have communion
with the Holy One of Israel, and expect to fellowship with a just and righteous
God, then we must be holy, just and righteous as He is. We must be perfect as
our heavenly Father is perfect. Like Him, we must be as pure as light. Many
Christians want to be doubly sure that God answers their prayers. Such people
ask: How can I be sure of answered prayers at all times? The answer is simple.
It is found in 1 John 5:14: “Now this is the confidence that we have in
Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.” To be
sure that God hears you when you pray, ask according to His will. God’s will
for His children is that they be perfect even as He is perfect. There can be no
darkness in Him; therefore, there must not be any darkness in you either. If
there is darkness in your life, you need to confess and remove that sin so that
the Spirit of God can commune freely with you. It is then that you will know
that God hears you. 1 John 3:21 says, “Beloved, if our heart does no condemn us, we
have confidence toward God.” Beloved, is it well with your soul today?
MEMORIZE:
1 JOHN 5:14 –Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask
anything according to His will, He hears us.
