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“to the pure you show yourself pure, but to the crooked you show yourself shrewd.” (Psalm 18:26)

How we perceive God and what is good, depends on the state of our heart.  Each man receives the value of his heart.  A little child’s innocence will allow it to hold a worm with wonder and joy.  But one who is older and jaded will regard that worm as ugly, hideous, and worthless.

Purify your heart from wickedness and you will begin to see the purity of God’s creation.  We say, for instance, that we forgive someone for what they’ve done.  But for most these are just words.  A little later and they will find themselves hashing the incident over again with hatred.  The forgiveness God demands does not come from a wicked heart.

A godly man will wake in the morning to the sound of peace in his heart.  He knows he has entered into a place where he can accept the will of God regardless the circumstances.  A wicked man will wake to consider the hatred he harbored the day before.  He counts all the offences against himself and others.  He looks for this same hatred in everyone else, for it resides so deeply in himself.  While a godly man will see beyond the actions of others to the reasons why they might do what they do.

The righteous man will consider death and suffering a task the Lord has presented for him to endure.  And will gladly accept the task, for he knows the Lord is pure and loving.  A wicked man will consider the same two tasks as hideous and revolting.  He will desire to be rid of both.  And will accuse the Lord of being too harsh.

We encounter life according to our own level of love or hatred.  A wise man will hear these words and consider his own heart.  The day is coming when our hearts will be shown for what they really are.  There will be no place to hide and no excuse to use.  Today is the day of testing.   You are tested by the world around you.  Are you shown as a man of God?  You are tested by your own actions.  Are you a man of God?  You are tested by the Lord.  Are you a man of God?

By His Grace.