The Lord has been teaching me about the importance of purity. Recently, I was cleaning out a small jar that held an old candle and He taught me an interesting lesson. I was not able to place the new candle with a fresh fragrance in the jar due to the wax build up that remained from the old candle. As I gently worked the old wax out, so as not to break the delicate glass jar, I realized this is how He desires to deal with us. When we accept Christ and walk with Him there may be times when do not follow Him with all of our strength. For instance, we may choose to put before our eyes, dwell on with our thoughts, or participate in those things that do not honor or glorify Him. When we do this it is like the old candle wax that builds up on the sides of the transparent jar. The wax build up can hinder our walk with Him.
When we commit to Him all of our time and even what we participate in as leisure or for recreation our vessel can avoid the waxy build up of impure things. When we choose to dwell on His things and walk in His ways it is like putting a new candle into a clean jar where the light can shine forth and the fragrance can be freely emitted. My prayer is that we would be pure and useful vessels before the Lord. Let us set before ourselves no vile thing and commit our thoughts and what we do with our time to Him, so that we will be bright lights to the world that emit His beautiful and sweet fragrance.
Even as the rain pours forth to drench and water the earth to leave refreshment, so I pour upon you. I renew your mind and refresh your body. I give you a new softened heart and remove your heart of stone. You offer yourself to Me and I move upon you to let you know I have need of thee.
You are willing to even offer your time and affections to Me, to give Me of yourself rather than spending yourself upon your own desires. This touches My heart greatly. This is how I desire to walk with My beloveds, breath by breath and moment by moment knowing I Am near, I Am real, I Am powerful and will meet every need. Even the smallest distraction from Me you give up are as the little foxes that can ruin the grapes.
How much more I delight to give and am able to give when your vessel is pure before Me and you offer yourself unto Me. You’ve only begun to touch on My power and glory and peace, continue to walk in this way and see what I will reveal. Even in the lesson of the candle holder and wax, you understand that I can put a fragrant candle into a clean holder, but I must remove the old smells and wax so you can shine forth and emit a new fragrance.
- “My beloved spake, and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away. For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; the flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land; the fig tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away. O my dove, that art in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the stairs, let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice; for sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely. Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes. My beloved is mine, and I am his: he feedeth among the lilies.” Song of Solomon 2:10-16
- “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
- “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.” James 4:7-10
- “Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” Philippians 4:4-8