The Narrow Gate, September 5, 2008

To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled.
They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work.

Titus 1:15-16 www.solascriptura.com

Father, we, in our original flesh, prior to Your filling our hearts with the Holy Spirit, were very impure. Our minds and consciences were dulled, but never unaware, of our sins. Father, we have accepted, by faith, the forgiveness and healing of Jesus. Our perspective has changed and we are able to know You Jesus and to know what You expect of us. Your expectations are pure and undefiled.

Again we are taught that to "profess" to know You but to have impure thoughts and impure behaviors is not o.k. Help us, today, not to simply profess our faith, but to live our faith in complete obedience to Your word. Help us not to disqualify ourselves by misbehaving.

Teach us that finishing well is better than starting out well. Help us to grasp the fact that, without a doubt, finishing badly produces a terrible result. Give us perfect fidelity, to You, and to each other, every day We pray in Jesus' name, amen.

Bruce Caldwell