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- Oct 26, 2007
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You must purge the evil. Deuteronomy 21:21; 22:21, 22, 24 NIV
God does not require the purging listed in today’s passages for two major reasons.
First, cultural practices no longer produce the horrific social conditions and other reasons for the destruction outlined in Deuteronomy.
Second, according to Hebrews 8:13 (ESV), believers are under a new covenant: “In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one obsolete.”
Still, God’s purposes for purging still work to protect His children. Purging is important because evil behaviors mess with God’s good gifts and pervert every pleasure (Psalm 67).
In Luke 9:41 Jesus called the unbelieving crowd who came to test Him “perverse,” because their unbelief affected the healing of a demon possessed child. This is partly why unbelief will also be purged at the final judgment.
Finally, when Paul talks about putting away the old self (Ephesians 4:31), he is reminding believers to work at purging inappropriate behaviors.
Is there a behavior you need to work toward purging today?
Prayer: Lord, help me find the right encouragers to help me with the purging process. Help me choose one behavior I can work toward “putting away” today.
God does not require the purging listed in today’s passages for two major reasons.
First, cultural practices no longer produce the horrific social conditions and other reasons for the destruction outlined in Deuteronomy.
Second, according to Hebrews 8:13 (ESV), believers are under a new covenant: “In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one obsolete.”
Still, God’s purposes for purging still work to protect His children. Purging is important because evil behaviors mess with God’s good gifts and pervert every pleasure (Psalm 67).
In Luke 9:41 Jesus called the unbelieving crowd who came to test Him “perverse,” because their unbelief affected the healing of a demon possessed child. This is partly why unbelief will also be purged at the final judgment.
Finally, when Paul talks about putting away the old self (Ephesians 4:31), he is reminding believers to work at purging inappropriate behaviors.
Is there a behavior you need to work toward purging today?
Prayer: Lord, help me find the right encouragers to help me with the purging process. Help me choose one behavior I can work toward “putting away” today.
