In what ways can we reflect God's purity in our daily walk? A Vision of Straight Legs and Polished Bronze “Their legs were straight, and the soles of their feet were like the hooves of a calf, gleaming like polished bronze.” (Ezekiel 1:7) • In Ezekiel’s opening vision, the living creatures’ “straight” legs picture unwavering integrity, while “polished bronze” suggests spotless purity that catches and reflects light. • What we see in heaven’s court sets the pattern for life on earth: God intends His people to walk straight and shine clean. Why Purity Matters to God’s People • 1 Peter 1:15-16 — “Just as He who called you is holy, be holy in all you do.” • 2 Corinthians 7:1 — “Let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit.” • Titus 2:14 — Christ “gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for Himself a people…” Purity is not optional polish; it is the very evidence that we belong to the Holy One. Polishing the Walk: Daily Practices • Stay in the Word – Psalm 119:9 — “How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to Your word.” – Read, memorize, and obey; Scripture scrubs the mind. • Cultivate honest habits – Straight paths mean no hidden corners: financial integrity, truthful speech, promises kept. • Keep short accounts with God – 1 John 1:7 — “The blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.” – Confess quickly; don’t let grime harden. Guarding the Gateways: Heart, Eyes, Speech • Heart — Proverbs 4:23: guard it “for everything you do flows from it.” • Eyes — Job 31:1: “I have made a covenant with my eyes.” • Speech — Ephesians 4:29: words should “give grace to those who hear.” Shining Where It’s Dark • Philippians 2:15 — “so that you will be blameless and pure… in a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.” • Purity is missional: the brighter the shine, the clearer the witness. Strength for Straight Legs • We polish with effort, but strength comes from Christ alone (Galatians 2:20). • The Spirit applies the finished work of Jesus to make us what Ezekiel saw: beings who stand straight and gleam like polished bronze, reflecting the purity of our God to everyone around us. |