Keeping a Pure Heart
"But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins." -Matthew 6:15
Sometimes life can make us upset. Sometimes people do things that just aren't right — even people who should know better! Or people may unknowingly do things that frustrate or hurt us, without even realizing it. Still, we have to guard our hearts in order not to let these bitter roots or feelings resulting from these things contaminate our faith and keep us from God's grace.
"Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many." -Hebrews 12:15
It's difficult to let things go when we feel we have a right to be upset. Betrayal by someone close to us is especially hard to overcome. But, anything that anyone does to us doesn't give us the right to any offense, or give us an excuse to lash out — pushing us into our sinful nature.
"When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God." -Galatians 5:19-21
Are you keeping your heart pure and protected? When people do bad things, are you able to respond with grace and forgiveness? Don't let your soul be pushed into spiritual danger due to someone else's wrongdoing or sin.
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