And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just a He is pure. 1 John 3:3
I don’t know about you, but I don’t often feel very pure. I yell at my kids on a nearly daily basis. I want to strangle my husband when he spends more than I deem appropriate. And I kick the dog when he gets in my way. And this just the beginning of everything that makes me feel less than pure. I easily get annoyed with the guy in Sunday school who just seems to enjoy the sound of his own voice and I find myself frustrated when the worship team plays another song I don’t know. These selfish reactions are not the way a pure person would react. Are they?
When I choose to focus on all my imperfections I can get so discouraged, even lose hope that I will ever be like Christ.
But, if I remember to put my eyes back on Jesus, the living and active Word of God, my confidence is restored and I am no longer ashamed of who I am.
I am loved.
I am a child of God.
When I look at the above verse in context I can plainly see these truths.
And know, little children, abide in Him that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming. If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of him. Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. (1 John 2:28-3:3, emphasis added)
I know with confidence that I am a child of God because I abide in Him. And I know that I abide in Him because I practice righteousness. Now, don’t get me wrong here. I am not claiming in anyway shape or form that I have reached sinless perfection. Certainly not! I am very much a sinner, as I have already made clear with my confessions of petty selfishness. However, I do practice righteousness.
Have you ever heard the phrase “practice makes perfect”? It implies that we need practice because we aren’t perfect yet. So I practice righteousness now (failing often), hoping for and believing in a day when I will be sin-free, when my sanctification will be complete, and I will be pure as Jesus is pure. And I practice willingly now, even though I find it can be very difficult, because as a child of God I am no longer okay with my sin.
The last verse in the passage says “and everyone who has this hope in Him…” In Him… Not a hope in ourselves or our circumstances… Not even a hope in heaven or our future glorified state… But hope in Him “purifies himself”. Hope in Jesus is the only hope that will purify any of us. This is the hope that allows us to confidently say “Yes, I am a mess, but when Jesus comes I won’t be ashamed. He already knows everything about me. I’ve brought everything into the light as He’s asked me to (1 John 1:5-9) and He still promises to claim me as His!”
Friends,
Please remember that I am human and flawed and my thoughts on this passage and others may not always be right. Please hold what I write up against the Word of God and listen to the Holy Spirit as He speaks to you directly. That said, I’m wondering if you are struggling to believe with all confidence that you are a child of God. I wonder if you struggle to believe that you are pure just as Jesus is pure. If so, please leave a comment or send me an email. I’d love to share some amazing truth with you. Truth about what Jesus has done for you and who He says you are as a believer.
Only by grace,
Kelli
Thank you, Kelli. I have been troubled by similar thoughts. In my case, I am beginning to dread going to my church. I do not feel as if I belong. I see so many flaws in others as well as my own flaws. I have such insecurities that I feel inferior and yet I long to be accepted and valued. I feel like a peon or a nobody while others bask in the spotlight because of their talents and confidence. I try to be happy for them and love them, but I keep feeling rejected.Somwtimes, I help with the kids’ youth Church and clean up the church a little. I don’t feel like going back ever right now. I feel as if I am only someone to open doors for others and not someone who people say “hello” to first because I have to be the one or else they would never acknowledge me. I don’t have peace about it and I need to feel God’s love and find my value in Him first. I fear that I will continue to come home after a service or Bible study worse off than when I entered. I feel rejected by the world and rejected at Church. Please pray for me.
Martha, I would love to pray for you.
Dear Heavenly Father, I ask that in this very moment Martha would have an overwhelming sense of your love for her. That she would know without a shadow of a doubt that you value her more than your own life. May she never forget the great lengths you went to save her from eternal separation from you. Lord, I ask that she would surrender these feelings of insecurity to you and that she would walk boldly as a child of God. I also ask that she would begin to experience community and fellowship, as you intend it, within her local church body. Please bring women in to Martha’s life who will gladly walk in the light with her as she draws closer to you. In the name of your Son I pray. Amen.
Amen. Thank you so much for this prayer. God bless you.
I appreciated this. I have very similar failings. And I struggle because not only do I not improve (particularly with gentleness, patience, and giving grace)… But I’m getting worse… I’ve been praying about this….especially toward my older daughter….but not enough.