by David Wilkerson
Here is the behavior of the blameless believer, according to the Apostle Paul:
1. To be blameless is to have no deceit of any kind. “For our exhortation did not come from deceit or uncleanness, nor was it in guile” (1 Thessalonians 2:3).
A blameless Christian is one without any deceit in his heart. Paul was saying, “I was not a fraud, preaching one thing to you and yet living another. My behavior was an open book!”
2. To be blameless is to touch nothing unclean. “For our exhortation did not
come from . . . uncleanness” (1 Thessalonians 2:3).
Paul’s emphasis here is on sensuality or lust. He is saying, “Not an unclean word came out of my mouth. My conversation was pure, coming forth from a clean heart.” Paul had his body under control. No fleshly passion drove him—no spirit of lust or fornication possessed his mind. He was a free man! A believer who tells dirty jokes, makes sexual innuendoes, or has roving eyes is someone whose heart has not yet been cleansed! God says, “If you are going to walk blameless before Me, you must have clean ears, a clean heart and a clean tongue!”
3. To be blameless is to be without error. “Our exhortation did not come from deceit” (verse 3).
The Christian without error or guile is not trying to be clever, crafty or manipulative. He has no hidden agenda and is totally open and honest. Paul said, “I did not manipulate you into the kingdom of God nor did I use clever words or try to play on your feelings. I gave the gospel to you straight!” Paul never played word games; he never used psychology to get people to like him. Paul said, “But we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children” (2:7). But when sin came in, he rebuked it with thunder out of heaven! He did not desire or need approval of any man, yet he loved people with all his heart. “For neither at any time did we use flattering words, as you know, nor a cloak for covetousness—God is witness. Nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others” (verses 5-6).
Paul was always mindful that God was watching him and checking his motives. He abstained from “every form of evil” (1 Thessalonians 5:22) and lived as if Jesus were coming within the hour!
Read this devotion online: http://www.worldchallenge.org/en/node/14792?src=devo-email
Here is the behavior of the blameless believer, according to the Apostle Paul:
1. To be blameless is to have no deceit of any kind. “For our exhortation did not come from deceit or uncleanness, nor was it in guile” (1 Thessalonians 2:3).
A blameless Christian is one without any deceit in his heart. Paul was saying, “I was not a fraud, preaching one thing to you and yet living another. My behavior was an open book!”
2. To be blameless is to touch nothing unclean. “For our exhortation did not
come from . . . uncleanness” (1 Thessalonians 2:3).
Paul’s emphasis here is on sensuality or lust. He is saying, “Not an unclean word came out of my mouth. My conversation was pure, coming forth from a clean heart.” Paul had his body under control. No fleshly passion drove him—no spirit of lust or fornication possessed his mind. He was a free man! A believer who tells dirty jokes, makes sexual innuendoes, or has roving eyes is someone whose heart has not yet been cleansed! God says, “If you are going to walk blameless before Me, you must have clean ears, a clean heart and a clean tongue!”
3. To be blameless is to be without error. “Our exhortation did not come from deceit” (verse 3).
The Christian without error or guile is not trying to be clever, crafty or manipulative. He has no hidden agenda and is totally open and honest. Paul said, “I did not manipulate you into the kingdom of God nor did I use clever words or try to play on your feelings. I gave the gospel to you straight!” Paul never played word games; he never used psychology to get people to like him. Paul said, “But we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children” (2:7). But when sin came in, he rebuked it with thunder out of heaven! He did not desire or need approval of any man, yet he loved people with all his heart. “For neither at any time did we use flattering words, as you know, nor a cloak for covetousness—God is witness. Nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others” (verses 5-6).
Paul was always mindful that God was watching him and checking his motives. He abstained from “every form of evil” (1 Thessalonians 5:22) and lived as if Jesus were coming within the hour!
Read this devotion online: http://www.worldchallenge.org/en/node/14792?src=devo-email
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