All of my teammates have been writing blogs in advance all week. They wanted to have something ready to upload today on our free day. I haven’t written anything until now, sitting in Starbucks, praying the wifi holds out until I’m done.
All yesterday I was wondering what to write. What of this first week would I share: my first sermon, the living conditions, the people I’ve met, the crazy amazing way my team is working, funny stories about culture differences. I didn’t know what to say.
Last night right before church something came to me. I started writing a blog in my head. It sounded pretty good. I would remember those bits and flesh it out today. I thought God and I were on the same page, but then I actually listened to what He wanted.
God broke my heart last night. I rejoice in His mercy and discipline by doing so. I needed to be broken so that I could be used. I needed to hear, absorb, accept, and walk in the truth He was and is speaking to me.
God and I have been having a conversation about purity for years now. Sitting in the airport in Lima He restarted this dialog. I only listened halfway. I didn’t want to dig in deep and get to the bottom of this. I want to just keep the status quo and move on.
Praise the Lord that He loves us enough to not leave us in the status quo.
Last night I was finally willing to listen, heart open, willing to accept whatever He said. Good thing. What He said blew my mind.
He sent me digging for purity in scripture. I came upon Isaiah 61 and knew that this was His word for me and I had work to do.
Isaiah 61:10-11 (NASB)
I will rejoice greatly in the Lord,
My soul will exult in my God;
For He has clothes me with garments of salvation,
He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness,
As a bridegroom decks himself with a garland,
And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
For as the earth brings forth its sprouts,
And as a garden causes the things sown in it to spring up,
So the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise
To spring up before all the nations.
This morning I looked this up in my new favorite version. My understanding ran deeper. I felt like Isaiah was speaking from my heart. I knew again that I had work to do.
Isaiah 61:10-11 (VOICE)
I am filled with joy and my soul vibrates with exuberant hope,
because of the Eternal my God;
For He has dressed me with the garment of salvation,
wrapped me with the robe of righteousness.
It’s as though I’m dressed for my wedding day,
in the very best: a bridegroom’s garland and bride’s jewels.
The whole earth sprouts newness and life in the springtime,
and green shoots break through the well-seeded garden soil.
That’s what it is like with the Eternal’s victory–
the Lord will cause justice and praise
to sprout up before all the nations, for all peoples to see.
How is this a call to work? What is this work I need to do?
I need to walk in purity. God has declared me to be righteous, holy, redeemed, pure, chosen, and beloved. I need to live like I am clothed in this truth.
I have to choose every day whether or not I will treat myself and others as pure in Christ. I have to choose every day whether or not I forgive my past and resist the devil’s scheme. I have to choose every day whether or not I believe the truth that God has spoken to me.
I say yes! I am pure! God is faithful and true!
Is this a truth in your life? Do you know all the things God has declared as true for you? I encourage you to dig into scripture and find your promises. Let us pray together that we will walk in truth and purity.
