How can we apply the principle of purity from Exodus 29:17 in our lives? The Scene at the Altar “Then you are to cut the ram into pieces, wash the entrails and legs, and place them with its head and the other pieces.” (Exodus 29:17) What Purity Meant Then • The ram was already set apart for God, yet its inner organs and legs still had to be washed. • The cleansing addressed what was hidden (entrails) and what was visible and active (legs). • Only after washing could everything be laid on the altar, symbolizing a life wholly given to the LORD. Why It Matters Today • God’s call is unchanged: “Be holy, because I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:15-16) • We, too, are living sacrifices (Romans 12:1) and temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). • “Let us cleanse ourselves from every impurity of body and spirit.” (2 Corinthians 7:1) Application for Heart and Mind • Daily confession and repentance – 1 John 1:9 • Regular intake of Scripture, the cleansing “washing with water through the word.” (Ephesians 5:26; John 15:3) • Guarded thought life – Philippians 4:8 • Quick rejection of bitterness, envy, lust, and pride before they lodge in the “entrails” of the soul – James 4:8 Application for Body and Actions • Sexual integrity: flee what defiles the body (1 Corinthians 6:18-20). • Stewardship of health: rest, nutrition, exercise, avoiding substances that dull discernment. • Purity in speech: truthful, gracious words (Ephesians 4:29). • Digital hygiene: filter media, limit screen time, avoid hidden online compromise. • Work ethic: honest labor, refusing shortcuts that stain witness (Colossians 3:23). Community Purity • Accountability partnerships—“iron sharpens iron.” (Proverbs 27:17) • Corporate worship and Lord’s Table self-examination (1 Corinthians 11:28). • Serving with clean motives, not self-promotion (Matthew 6:1-4). • Gentle restoration of straying believers, watching ourselves (Galatians 6:1). Living Out Purity in the Everyday • Start each morning offering body and mind to God before tasks begin. • Keep short accounts: confess sin the moment the Spirit convicts. • End each day with Scripture, reviewing attitudes and actions in His light. • Where failure occurs, receive Christ’s cleansing, rise, and walk forward—“You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.” (John 15:3) • Trust God’s promise: “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” (Matthew 5:8) |
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