HEART MATTERS
Jesus said “Happy are the pure in heart, since they will see God.” By the Scriptures, is there more than one way to see God? And what of this purity of heart—what is it and how can we reasonably manifest it in the world we live in, leading to what happiness?
Heart Matters
HAPPY ARE THE PURE IN HEART
FAITH AND GOOD MOTIVES NECESSARY
KEEP WALKING BY SPIRIT
17. HOLY SPIRIT, WISDOM. “Keep walking by spirit, and you will carry out no fleshly desire at all.”—Galatians 5:16. How beneficial is the power God gives through his holy spirit! The same holy spirit that God used to create the universe He can use to produce within you genuine joy and peace on the basis of faith in God and true love—all wonderfully beneficial qualities. This spirit flows as you gain divine wisdom, and helps you bring your life in harmony with it. We need to keep searching for this wisdom earnestly, as digging for treasures. (Proverbs 2:1-5). This wisdom includes understanding and discernment. Understanding involves examining each piece of something, seeing how each piece fits with the others to make the whole, like the pieces of a puzzle. Discernment is the ability to distinguish right from wrong, truth from falsehood, good from bad, wise from unwise, and serious matters of God’s law from those of lesser importance, thus helping to make good judgments and decisions--a necessary protective quality. Faith in God, as described in the Christian-Greek Scriptures, includes both of these qualities. As we grow in godly wisdom, God’s holy spirit can help us walk faithfully toward Jehovah in harmony with the knowledge that we are gaining. Thus Galatians 5:16 assures us: “Keep walking by spirit, and you will carry out no fleshly desire at all.” Thus we must let God’s spirit guide our steps in life. The spirit is against the flesh, referring to our selfish sinful inclinations. God’s holy spirit can help us rise above the flesh and make good faithful decisions. To accomplish this, we should learn a few things concerning this.
18. (a) What does Colossians 1:9,10 encourage Christians to do, and why? (b) As we gain knowledge of God’s word, what should we pray for and why? (c) Why should we seek endurance and godly devotion?
18. ACCURATE KNOWLEDGE. God’s word encourages the obtaining of accurate knowledge of God and his will. As Colossians 1:9,10 explains, “that you may be filled with the accurate knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual comprehension, 10 so as to walk worthily of Jehovah in order to please him fully as you go on bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the accurate knowledge of God.” Thus we should continue studying God’s word diligently, seeking gems of wisdom and knowledge to apply in our personal life to bring our life into full harmony with God’s will. As we gain knowledge of God’s will and law, we should pray for God’s spirit including self-control, so that we might bring our lives in harmony with such. Then we should seek endurance to live properly with integrity despite trials that may come upon us. "Walking by spirit" largely involves walking with loyal integrity to God, holding to His standards as we deal with various circumstances and handle situations in life. Proverbs 11:3 says "The integrity of the upright is what guides them..." Thus we are motivated and guided in life by our determination to walk with integrity before God. Godly devotion is a personal attachment to Jehovah God that longs to maintain obedience and please Him as our loving Father. To love others, we should prove loyal to God first, encouraging others to do the same. True loyalty to our fellowman helps them be loyal to God first and foremost, along with us. We should seek understanding in such things that we can ultimately grow deep in love for God and others.
19. (a) As we grow in the knowledge of God, what will accompany divine wisdom? (b) How do we receive holy spirit from God? (c) What does our obedience to the truth make possible?
19. OBEDIENCE. Notice a description of wisdom found in James 3: “13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him by his fine conduct demonstrate works performed with a mildness that comes from wisdom.” Obedient, faithful works will thus accompany divine wisdom, along with a mild gentleness of spirit. Notice how this description continues: “17 But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peaceable, reasonable, ready to obey, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial, not hypocritical.” Holy spirit will assist our gaining of wisdom from God, as it acts in full harmony with it. According to the Scriptures, God gives holy spirit to those asking Him, and to those obeying Him as ruler. (Luke 11:13; Acts 5:32). Therefore, let us seek complete obedience to God as we grow in accurate knowledge and divine wisdom. Thus we shall grow to spiritual completeness or maturity, being able to show proper brotherly affection and love for others. As 1Peter 1:22 states: “22 Now that you have purified yourselves by your obedience to the truth with unhypocritical brotherly affection as the result, love one another intensely from the heart.“
20. (a) Why should we avoid practicing the works of the flesh, and how do we avoid carrying out such selfish desires? (b) According to Ephesians 4:13, what should be a goal of true Christians?
20. FLESH, SPIRIT. Galatians 5:17 states: “17 For the flesh is against the spirit in its desire, and the spirit against the flesh; these are opposed to each other, so that you do not do the very things you want to do.“ Thus we must “16 keep walking by spirit, and you will carry out no fleshly desire at all.” We therefore let God’s spirit guide our steps, not straying off the path of eternal life. But what are the works of the flesh more specifically—examples of sinful, selfish works? Galatians 5 continues: “19 Now the works of the flesh are plainly seen, and they are sexual immorality, uncleanness, brazen conduct, 20 idolatry, spiritism, hostility, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, dissensions, divisions, sects, 21 envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and things like these. I am forewarning you about these things, the same way I already warned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit God’s Kingdom.“ We should come to understand this divine list, that we may make sure we are having nothing to do with such works, and be able to understand and help others to flee from and overcome such wrong desires as well. God’s word continues, however, with a superior list: “22 On the other hand, the fruitage of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, 23 mildness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.” So God’s holy spirit produces such good qualities within us that helps safeguard us from works of the flesh. Let us appreciate God’s powerful spirit and all that it can accomplish in our spiritual growth, as Ephesians 4:13 puts it: “13 until we all attain to the oneness of the faith and of the accurate knowledge of the Son of God, to being a full-grown man, attaining the measure of stature that belongs to the fullness of the Christ.” Yes, with the assistance of God’s holy spirit, we can attain spiritual maturity and continue growing in divine love and wisdom, able to assist others in their spiritual growth, that they may do the same for still others.
21. (a) What transformation occurs as one becomes a true follower of Christ? (b) What kind of aspects of personality will true Christians share as they grow spiritually?
21. NEW PERSONALITY. Referring to unclean, selfish works, Colossians 3 says: “6 On account of those things the wrath of God is coming. 7 That is how you too used to conduct yourselves in your former way of life. 8 But now you must put them all away from you: wrath, anger, badness, abusive speech, and obscene talk out of your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another. Strip off the old personality with its practices, 10 and clothe yourselves with the new personality, which through accurate knowledge is being made new according to the image of the One who created it.” Thus as we keep walking by spirit, we can minimize the inclination to practice selfish sinful works of the flesh, putting on the new personality, which we can develop as we take in accurate knowledge of God and his will. Applying the fruitage of the spirit to the new personality, we could say that this personality is loving, joyful, peaceable, patiently loyal, generously kind, good, faithful, gently mild, and self-controlled. And, as it matures, it is practiced in harmony with divine wisdom.
22. (a) What role does light play in the life of a true Christian? (b) How can discernment and foresight assist us to love what is good and hate what is bad in God’s eyes?
22. LIGHT. God’s holy spirit is referred to in the Scriptures as the “spirit of the truth” (John 15:26). Accordingly, “light” in the scriptures reveals truth. Psalm 97 says: “11 Light has flashed up for the righteous And rejoicing for those upright in heart.” Jesus spoke of his disciples as having light: “Let your light shine before men.” And Ephesians 5 expands to say: “8 for you were once darkness, but you are now light in connection with the Lord. Go on walking as children of light, 9 for the fruitage of the light consists of every sort of goodness and righteousness and truth. 10 Keep on making sure of what is acceptable to the Lord; 11 and stop sharing in the unfruitful works that belong to the darkness; rather, expose them for what they are.” So clearly the “works of the flesh” that we read about in Galatians 5 are among the “unfruitful works that belong to the darkness” that we’re to have nothing to do with, rather exposing such for what they are, selfish sinful works that tear us down spiritually rather than build us up. Instead, we are to walk as children of light, loving and practicing “goodness, righteousness, and truth” as fruitage of the light. We do this as we “keep on making sure of what is acceptable to the Lord,” using God-given discernment to appreciate the difference between what is good and bad. “O you who love Jehovah, hate what is bad.” (Psalm 97:10). With foresight, we can wisely look ahead to see the consequences of both a good and bad course, loving the good and hating the bad.
23. Sum up the progress of spiritual growth in the life of a Christian.
23. WALK BY SPIRIT. Thus to summarize, we need to build our faith as we grow in godly wisdom, receiving God’s powerful holy spirit to assist us in seeking spiritual maturity, able to properly love God and others. To this end, we need to take in accurate knowledge of God’s word, allowing that knowledge to mold our thinking, bringing us more in harmony with God’s will and law. We must be obedient to God and His word, as God gives holy spirit to those “obeying Him as ruler.” Obedience is also how we purify ourselves, that we might be able to love one another intensely from the heart. Thus we come to reject selfish sinful works of the flesh, as detailed in Galatians 5:19-21, and rather choose to receive the fruitage of the spirit, qualities that safeguard us from selfishness, as described at Galatians 5:22,23. We should pray for that holy spirit and it’s fruitage daily, as God gives holy spirit to those asking Him. As we reject all badness in speech and actions, we can begin to put on the new personality, which through accurate knowledge is being made new according to the spiritual image of the One who created it. As we do so, we become bearers and children of light, seeking to let our light shine before men, while practicing goodness, righteousness, and truth as fruitage of the light. We reject unfruitful works that belong to the darkness, and expose them for what they are—fleshly, selfish, sinful works that tear down spiritually rather than build up. Practicing foresight, we can wisely look ahead at the consequences of a good or bad course, that we might hate what is bad and love what is good. Thus, may we keep walking by God’s spirit, letting that spirit guide our steps, that we may carry out no fleshly desire at all. And, may we appreciate the light of truth that God reveals through His word the Bible, helping us find and remain on the path that leads to eternal life in true peace and happiness on the foundation of faith in God, with true love for God and others.
1. (a) Is there more than one way to "see" God, and if so, how? (b) What will be considered in this article?
1. HOPE OF SEEING GOD. "Happy are the pure in heart, since they will see God."—Matthew 5:8. While wanting to be pure in heart, what about the hope of seeing God? Is literally going to heaven the only way one can "see God?" What is meant by Jesus' statement? Certainly Jesus did speak at times of ones gaining the hope of going to heaven, being anointed to become corulers with Jesus in the Kingdom of God (Lu. 22:28-30; Mt. 6:9,10). Such ones literally would be privileged to see God as they take on spirit bodies in the heavenly realm. God's word states that "no man may see God and yet live." Still, the man Moses was privileged to catch a glimpse of God passing by, while God spoke of His own spiritual character--the primary aspects of His personality (Exod. 34:5-7). The Scriptures do speak of 'seeing' God in a way that refers to appreciating more fully His attributes. Thus, going to heaven is not the only way a person can come to "see" God. Even those blessed to be part of the earthly realm under the rulership of God's Kingdom can come to see God in this way, with eyes of faith (Ps 37:9-11,29). How do we know, and how can this happen? Moreover, why is purity of heart such a key to enjoying the privilege of seeing God like this? How do we cultivate this purity of heart, and how does this bring us the happiness that Jesus spoke of in the Sermon on the Mount? Let's examine what God's word has to say regarding such things.
THE EXAMPLE OF JOB
2. What contributed to Job's coming to "see" God in a way that he never before experienced?
2. JOB SEES GOD. First, let's look at how the patriarch and faithful man Job came to see God in the way previously mentioned. He was being accused of wrongdoing, and while remaining faithful to God, he still needed some loving correction for accusing God of injustice. This correction God provided through younger Elihu and God's own counsel during a windstorm. Jehovah impressed upon Job His cardinal qualities: the great power He has as well as His wisdom, righteousness and love. Job began to understand God more clearly than ever. Notice Job's response to Jehovah, at Job 42:2,5,6: "Now I know that you are able to do all things, and nothing you have in mind is impossible for you...My ears have heard about you, but now I do see you with my eyes. That is why I take back what I said, and I repent in dust and ashes." Job came to "see" God, to understand Him like never before. Job's integrity and purity of heart enabled him to see God upon receiving further insight and instruction regarding God's personality.
3. In what way was Job a man of integrity, and what need may we come to see more fully?
3. JOB A MAN OF INTEGRITY. Of course, there's more to getting to know God than simply learning His four cardinal attributes, His wisdom, righteousness, love and power. It's clear from Job's words in the book named after him, that he was one who appreciated learning things about God and seeking to live His way (Job 6:29,30). Job was a right-hearted man, a man of integrity. By imitating these qualities along with Job's purity of heart, we can come to draw closer to God as he did, and be better able to love Him back. The privilege of drawing close to God should not be undervalued. As we come to appreciate our need for godly advice, we may sorrow over past ignorance of such things (James 4:8-10). However, as Matthew 5:4 reveals, "Happy are those who mourn, since they will be comforted."
FREE WILL AND MAN’S FALL—GOD NOT TO BLAME
4. (a) What misuse of free will led to great sadness for mankind? (b) Yet why should we appreciate the gift of free will?
4. MISUSE OF FREE WILL. Job’s counselor Elihu stated this regarding God, at Job 34:12: “12 For a certainty, God does not act wickedly; The Almighty does not pervert justice.” Certainly, if God wants us to cultivate purity of heart, then He himself must be pure Himself. We find expressions of God’s holiness throughout his word, such as at Isaiah 57:15: “15 For this is what the High and Lofty One says, Who lives forever and whose name is holy: “I reside in the high and holy place, But also with those crushed and lowly in spirit, To revive the spirit of the lowly And to revive the heart of those being crushed.” How vital, then, that all understand that God was not to blame for the badness and suffering that we see around us in the world, or have experienced ourselves. God has given mankind a wonderful gift, that of “free will.” This means that, rather than acting as robots, or forced into a life course by the idea of “fate,” we instead have the freedom to choose to serve and obey God out of love for Him. Sadly, our forefather Adam misused his free will, after God clearly warned him of dire consequences if he did so. The Scriptures clearly confirm God’s love, underscoring love as his dominant quality, saying at 1John 4:8 that “God is love.” Surely a loving God and Father would not script out a course of sadness for the human family—all He asked of Adam was obedience to one simple command. Instead, disobedience brought much grief to his children, including all the badness and suffering we see. It is as stated at Romans 5:12: “12 That is why, just as through one man sin entered into the world and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because they had all sinned—.” Still, God immediately gave hope for the human family, with His uttered prophecy found at Genesis 3:15. Essentially, in time the rebellion against God’s rulership would be stamped out permanently. This would usher in the joyous life God intended for humans.
5. (a) Why did God not simply start over with two new humans? (b) Why is it wise and reasonable to accept God’s standards in life rather than ignoring them?
5. START OVER? But some may wonder, why didn’t God simply start over with two new humans? This is largely because there were serious issues raised by the disobedience of our first parents, issues that even God’s angelic family would wonder about. The one who came to be called Satan had rebelled against God, lying about Him to Eve, telling her that she would not die if she ate the forbidden fruit. In effect he told her that God was withholding something good from her, something that she could receive by her disobedience. (Genesis 3:1-5). The primary issue raised, then, was whether God’s rulership of man is best, or could man find more happiness deciding for himself what is good and bad. In other words, who could decide best what is good and bad for humans—man’s Creator God, or someone else? The last 6,000 years of man’s existence has proven the truth of God’s word at Ecclesiastes 8:9 from His king Solomon: “9 All of this I have seen, and I applied my heart to every work that has been done under the sun, during the time that man has dominated man to his harm.” We need God’s guidance for a happy life. It is calamity for man to try to set his own standards of right and wrong, without looking to God. It is as stated in Jeremiah 10:23: “23 I well know, O Jehovah, that man’s way does not belong to him. It does not belong to man who is walking even to direct his step.” Thus Jehovah is a holy God, in contrast to many sinful men. What a privilege to get to know God’s lofty standards and benefit by making them our own! Yes, God’s thoughts and ways are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:8,9). We should acknowledge that God’s standards are far greater than what we could conceive on our own. Yet we have God’s word to help us get to know God’s superior ways, and benefit greatly.
6. (a) How can God’s instruction benefit us? (b) What other issue was raised in the Garden of Eden?
6. THE HOLY ONE. Therefore, we can understand that it was not God’s fault that our forefather Adam chose to disobey. This act caused tremendous sadness to our Father, Jehovah. He loves His creation of humans greatly, and has helped so many to cope with challenging circumstances while aiming to please Him. Notice how we benefit by the instruction of our holy God Jehovah, as expressed at Isaiah 48:17,18: “17 This is what Jehovah says, your Repurchaser, the Holy One of Israel: “I, Jehovah, am your God, The One teaching you to benefit yourself, The One guiding you in the way you should walk. 18 If only you would pay attention to my commandments! Then your peace would become just like a river And your righteousness like the waves of the sea.” Yes, Jehovah wants the best for us, and instructs us in the best way by his holy word the Bible. Regarding angelic seraphs in Isaiah’s time, Isaiah 6:3 says “3 And one called to the other: “Holy, holy, holy is Jehovah of armies. The whole earth is filled with his glory.” Jehovah our Creator has the purest heart of all, and invites us to learn to imitate Him and his Son by cultivating purity of heart ourselves. This would serve to settle another issue raised in the Garden of Eden, that of man’s integrity. Could man really be true to God, or was man defective in some way? In Job’s case, Satan contended that he could get Job to curse God by taking away the blessings God had given him. Job never sinned in such a way, refusing to take away his integrity to God (Job 27:5). May we come to have similar purity of heart.
FAITH AND GOOD MOTIVES NECESSARY
7. (a) How do we show faith in God? (b) What three things should we keep in mind as we walk the path leading to endless life?
7. FAITH AND GOOD MOTIVES. It is clear from the Scriptures that a person needs to have good motives to serve God properly. For one thing, one needs genuine faith to fully please Him, as Hebrews 11:6 states: "Without faith it is impossible to please God well. For he that approaches God must believe that He is, and that he becomes the rewarder of those earnestly seeking Him." Therefore, we need to confidently trust God's guidance and direction, looking to Him for help, protection, and salvation as we do so. We should seek God's favor earnestly, willingly in compliance with God's laws and guidelines, which are reasonable--not burdensome (1Jn 5:3). While doing so, we should also eagerly learn the principles of truth that direct God's laws, as well as qualities of the heart, such as unselfish loyalty and kindness, that endear us to God and others--making possible genuine friendships (1Cor 13:4). These three: God’s law, qualities of the heart and spirit, and principles of divine truth should be on our minds as we walk the path toward endless life in God's new world.
8. (a) According to God's word, what should be safeguarded more than anything else? (b) What is meant by "purity of heart" (c) What does 2Corinthians 7:1 reasonably encourage us to do, based on what promises?
8. PURITY OF HEART. What is meant by "purity of heart?" The figurative heart largely represents the motives of a person, although it can also refer to the inward spirit. A pure heart, therefore, is clean, marked by love for and obedience to God, seeking His honor as we represent Him before others. The importance of having a good and pure heart is underscored at Proverbs 4:23, where we read: "More than all else to be guarded, safeguard your heart, for out of it are the sources of life." Having a pure heart and the privilege of being close to God require humility, as shown in Psalm 138:6: "Though Jehovah is high, he takes note of the humble, But the haughty he knows only from a distance." The exhortation at 2Corinthians 7:1 sheds more light. In chapter 6 verses 14-18 we find promises of God's favor and blessing to be upon us, from a loving Father, for choosing to steer clear of false worship and bad association. Then we read: "Since we have these promises, beloved ones, let us cleanse ourselves of every defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God." This encourages us to be reasonably clean in body, mind and spirit, with the pure heartfelt motive of pleasing and obeying God, upholding His good name, will and purpose. After our first parents sinned, God foresaw that mankind for a time would come to be divided between those choosing to serve the true God and others choosing to serve other gods. He also saw that there would be enmity between them. We find this in the first uttered prophecy found in the word of God at Genesis 3:15, with God speaking judgement upon the serpent, Satan: "And I will put enmity between you and the woman and between your offspring and her offspring. He will crush your head, and you will strike him in the heel." While true Christians would learn to love even their enemies, hoping for their repentance, opposers with Satan are often not appreciating God’s love for them.
9. (a) What issue did Elijah help fellow Israelites to appreciate? (b) How has Satan taunted God, but how may we respond in love for God?
9. TAKING GOD’S SIDE. Bible examples bear out this conflict between good and evil. Take, for instance, the time when Israelites were falling to the false worship of Baal. God's prophet Elijah, with loving concern for them, drew attention to the real issue: "How long will you be limping between two different opinions? If Jehovah is the true God, follow Him. But if Baal is, follow him." He proposed a test to prove that Jehovah was the true God, and the people were finally convinced of the truth, and turned back to serving Jehovah. (1Kings 18:21-40) Jesus once stated "He that is not on my side is against me, and he that does not gather with me scatters." So let us ensure we have pure motives in serving the true God, Jehovah. Satan has taunted God that he could turn all people from integrity, as if all had selfish motives like him. Regarding this Jehovah appeals to us, at Proverbs 27:11, "Be wise, my son, and make my heart rejoice, that I may make a reply to him that is taunting me." Our firm stand on God's side gives evidence that true love and right prevails.
VICTORY IN THE BATTLE WITHIN
10. How may we overcome wrong desires to live a clean life even now?
10. A BATTLE, NEED SELF-CONTROL. In choosing friendship with God and purity of heart we may find we have a battle with our own inherited imperfection and wrong desires. We may need to ask God for his holy spirit and it's fruitage of self-control that we can control such desires and keep God’s law, making our mind over (1Corinthians 9:24-27; Gal. 5:22,23). Notice the counsel of 1Corinthians 9:24-26: “24 Do you not know that the runners in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win it. 25 Now everyone competing in a contest exercises self-control in all things. Of course, they do it to receive a crown that can perish, but we, one that does not perish.” Yes, is not the prize of endless life in true peace worth every effort? “26 Therefore, the way I am running is not aimlessly; the way I am aiming my blows is so as not to be striking the air.” Learning God’s standards, cultivating self-control, and relying on God in prayer allow us to aim our blows with precision, to make spiritual progress. Take note of 1Corinthians 6:9,10: "Do you not know that unrighteous people will not inherit God’s Kingdom? Do not be misled. Those who are sexually immoral, idolaters, adulterers, men who submit to homosexual acts, men who practice homosexuality, 10 thieves, greedy people, drunkards, revilers, and extortioners will not inherit God’s Kingdom. 11 And yet that is what some of you were. But you have been washed clean; you have been sanctified; you have been declared righteous in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and with the spirit of our God."
11. What transformation can take place in one choosing to follow Christ truly?
11. TRANSFORMATION. While God's kingdom and true Christianity have exerted a positive influence on mankind, still the ungodly world around us--the ungodly system of things--exerts an influence as well that seeks to make inroads within Christianity, which influence we need to be alert to and avoid. Romans 12:2 instructs true Christians to "stop being molded by this system of things, but be transformed by making your mind over, so that you may prove to yourselves the good and acceptable and perfect will of God." Ephesians 2:1-5 explains it this way: "Furthermore, God made you alive though you were dead in your trespasses and sins, 2 in which you at one time walked according to the system of things of this world, according to the ruler of the authority of the air, the spirit that now operates in the sons of disobedience. 3 Yes, among them we all at one time conducted ourselves in harmony with the desires of our flesh, carrying out the will of the flesh and of our thoughts, and we were naturally children of wrath just as the rest. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love with which he loved us, 5 made us alive together with the Christ, even when we were dead in trespasses--by undeserved kindness you have been saved."
12. How were some Christians harming their relationship with God, and what's needed to correct such a situation?
12. GUARDING ASSOCIATIONS. James raises this issue when some Christians were mistakenly loving the ungodly world set up around them at that time. They were to be loving mankind; however, much of the world of that day was set up under the influence of God's enemy Satan. James called them adulteresses, saying "do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever, therefore, wants to be a friend of the world is making himself an enemy of God." (James 4:4). He continues in verses 7,8: "Therefore, subject yourselves to God; but oppose the Devil, and he will flee from you. Draw close to God, and he will draw close to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you indecisive ones." Yes, indecisive ones, neglecting to make their minds up to be firmly on God's side, needed to 'purify their hearts.' An essential part of doing so may involve being more careful about our association. As 1Corinthians 15:33 states, "Do not be misled. Bad associations spoil useful habits" (or, literally: 'corrupt good morals'). We still need to be around even ungodly ones to love our neighbor as ourselves, sharing divine truth, but doing so with the utmost caution to remain "without spot from the world." (James 1:27)
13. What privilege may be ours by wisely rejecting ungodly attitudes and influences?
13. THINGS IN THE WORLD PASSING AWAY. The decision to side with God is also clarified in 1John 2:15-17. Mention there is made of "the things in the world," referring not to material possessions, but rather to ungodly attitudes and influences. There we read: "Do not love either the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him; because everything in the world--the desire of the flesh and the desire of the eyes and the showy display of one's means of life--does not originate with the Father, but originates with the world. Furthermore, the world is passing away and so is its desire, but the one who does the will of God remains forever." Thus we need to reject wrong and selfish desires. Regarding the desire of the eyes, Psalm 101:3a says “I will not set anything worthless in front of my eyes.” So in this ungodly world, caution is ever in order. Also, we need to avoid boasting of any talents or possessions. Jehovah is a holy God, and what a privilege to be associated with those worldwide who are wholeheartedly serving Him, forming a genuine brotherhood. You likely wish to become or remain associated with the people of God, true Christians. What else may be said regarding developing purity of heart, as we grow in genuine godly wisdom?
CULTIVATE PURITY OF HEART
14. (a) The proper fear of God moves us to do what? (b) Whose thoughts should we seek the privilege of knowing, and why?
14. WISDOM IS FIRST PURE. Actually, in discussing godly wisdom, James writes that "the wisdom from above is first of all pure." (James 3:17) Genuine godly wisdom starts with purity and the fear of God, as Proverbs 9:10 states: "The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of wisdom, And knowledge of the Most Holy One is understanding." Proverbs 8:13 says "the fear of Jehovah means the hating of bad." The association between godly fear and purity is underscored at Psalm 19:9, saying "The fear of Jehovah is pure, lasting forever." Therefore, the proper fear of Jehovah moves us to hate all badness and love purity of heart, mind and body. We need humility and deep respect and love for God to properly fear displeasing Him. God once told a wayward nation of Israel "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." (Isa. 55:8,9) This should help us to appreciate the privilege of having or receiving God's thoughts--to see things as He does, from His point of view. Jesus once corrected Peter with strong language in a serious matter, giving strong reproof for thinking "not God's thoughts, but those of men." So we should learn to think God's thoughts, as Jesus taught his disciples to do.
15. (a) What are some of the many reasons we have for respecting and loving God? (b) How might we love God in return?
15. EVERY REASON TO LOVE GOD. Thus we have every reason to respect God for His wonderful works and ways. At the same time, God's great love for us is evident in the multitude of gifts from God we experience each and every day, starting with the breath of life and continuing with the immense variety of food and beverage, along with our abilities to converse with friends, neighbors and loved ones. We have every reason to love God in return. Revelation 4:11 reveals heavenly praise, as anointed ones happily and respectfully proclaim "You are worthy, Jehovah our God, to receive the glory and the honor and the power, because you created all things, and because of your will they existed and were created." Jehovah is a holy God, and as God reminds us through Peter, "You must be holy, because I am holy" (1Pet 1:16). Appreciating such purity of heart, mind and body makes possible a loving, united brotherhood worldwide. Notice how lives are purified, as God reveals through Peter, "Now that you have purified yourselves by your obedience to the truth, with unhypocritical brotherly affection as the result, love one another intensely from the heart." (1Pet 1:22) Therefore loving, respectful obedience to God makes possible this pure condition and a happy loving brotherhood, as 1Tim 1:11 reveals Jehovah to be "the happy God."
16. What reading routine can help to safeguard our hearts more than all else to be guarded?
16. GROW IN WISDOM. The fruitage of God's holy spirit includes love, joy, and peace, qualities we may pray for and cultivate largely through the gaining of accurate knowledge of God's will and purpose, including knowledge of the "new personality," which "through accurate knowledge is being made new according to the image of the One who created it." (Col. 3:9-14) Continue growing in godly wisdom through the reading of Proverbs, the Sermon on the Mount as in Matthew 5-7, and other Bible books you examine in a regular Bible reading program. It has been said that the lessons in the Sermon on the Mount comprise about one third of all that is required of true Christians--in just three chapters of Matthew. Matthew 4 adds the lessons of the three temptations faced by Jesus as he responded with vital principles from God's word. Much can be gained from the reading of Psalms and even the smaller books of the Christian-Greek Scriptures, found from Galatians through Jude, many of which are between just four and six chapters each. As for the Bible book of Proverbs, there are 31 chapters, which we may conclude is one for every day of the month. Why not think of what day of the month it is, and consider that numbered chapter of Proverbs? Reading God's word daily is a powerful way to maintain our love for God, His word, and divine truth which helps to safeguard our hearts, our genuine motives and our inner person. In doing so, we can experience the deep-seated happiness that is part of the fruitage of God's holy spirit, on the path to endless life in true love, joy, and peace.
KEEP WALKING BY SPIRIT
17. (a) As aspects of wisdom and faith, what are understanding and discernment, and how can these qualities serve as a protection? (b) What can God’s powerful holy spirit help us to overcome?
17. HOLY SPIRIT, WISDOM. “Keep walking by spirit, and you will carry out no fleshly desire at all.”—Galatians 5:16. How beneficial is the power God gives through his holy spirit! The same holy spirit that God used to create the universe He can use to produce within you genuine joy and peace on the basis of faith in God and true love—all wonderfully beneficial qualities. This spirit flows as you gain divine wisdom, and helps you bring your life in harmony with it. We need to keep searching for this wisdom earnestly, as digging for treasures. (Proverbs 2:1-5). This wisdom includes understanding and discernment. Understanding involves examining each piece of something, seeing how each piece fits with the others to make the whole, like the pieces of a puzzle. Discernment is the ability to distinguish right from wrong, truth from falsehood, good from bad, wise from unwise, and serious matters of God’s law from those of lesser importance, thus helping to make good judgments and decisions--a necessary protective quality. Faith in God, as described in the Christian-Greek Scriptures, includes both of these qualities. As we grow in godly wisdom, God’s holy spirit can help us walk faithfully toward Jehovah in harmony with the knowledge that we are gaining. Thus Galatians 5:16 assures us: “Keep walking by spirit, and you will carry out no fleshly desire at all.” Thus we must let God’s spirit guide our steps in life. The spirit is against the flesh, referring to our selfish sinful inclinations. God’s holy spirit can help us rise above the flesh and make good faithful decisions. To accomplish this, we should learn a few things concerning this.
18. (a) What does Colossians 1:9,10 encourage Christians to do, and why? (b) As we gain knowledge of God’s word, what should we pray for and why? (c) Why should we seek endurance and godly devotion?
18. ACCURATE KNOWLEDGE. God’s word encourages the obtaining of accurate knowledge of God and his will. As Colossians 1:9,10 explains, “that you may be filled with the accurate knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual comprehension, 10 so as to walk worthily of Jehovah in order to please him fully as you go on bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the accurate knowledge of God.” Thus we should continue studying God’s word diligently, seeking gems of wisdom and knowledge to apply in our personal life to bring our life into full harmony with God’s will. As we gain knowledge of God’s will and law, we should pray for God’s spirit including self-control, so that we might bring our lives in harmony with such. Then we should seek endurance to live properly with integrity despite trials that may come upon us. "Walking by spirit" largely involves walking with loyal integrity to God, holding to His standards as we deal with various circumstances and handle situations in life. Proverbs 11:3 says "The integrity of the upright is what guides them..." Thus we are motivated and guided in life by our determination to walk with integrity before God. Godly devotion is a personal attachment to Jehovah God that longs to maintain obedience and please Him as our loving Father. To love others, we should prove loyal to God first, encouraging others to do the same. True loyalty to our fellowman helps them be loyal to God first and foremost, along with us. We should seek understanding in such things that we can ultimately grow deep in love for God and others.
19. (a) As we grow in the knowledge of God, what will accompany divine wisdom? (b) How do we receive holy spirit from God? (c) What does our obedience to the truth make possible?
19. OBEDIENCE. Notice a description of wisdom found in James 3: “13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him by his fine conduct demonstrate works performed with a mildness that comes from wisdom.” Obedient, faithful works will thus accompany divine wisdom, along with a mild gentleness of spirit. Notice how this description continues: “17 But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peaceable, reasonable, ready to obey, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial, not hypocritical.” Holy spirit will assist our gaining of wisdom from God, as it acts in full harmony with it. According to the Scriptures, God gives holy spirit to those asking Him, and to those obeying Him as ruler. (Luke 11:13; Acts 5:32). Therefore, let us seek complete obedience to God as we grow in accurate knowledge and divine wisdom. Thus we shall grow to spiritual completeness or maturity, being able to show proper brotherly affection and love for others. As 1Peter 1:22 states: “22 Now that you have purified yourselves by your obedience to the truth with unhypocritical brotherly affection as the result, love one another intensely from the heart.“
20. (a) Why should we avoid practicing the works of the flesh, and how do we avoid carrying out such selfish desires? (b) According to Ephesians 4:13, what should be a goal of true Christians?
20. FLESH, SPIRIT. Galatians 5:17 states: “17 For the flesh is against the spirit in its desire, and the spirit against the flesh; these are opposed to each other, so that you do not do the very things you want to do.“ Thus we must “16 keep walking by spirit, and you will carry out no fleshly desire at all.” We therefore let God’s spirit guide our steps, not straying off the path of eternal life. But what are the works of the flesh more specifically—examples of sinful, selfish works? Galatians 5 continues: “19 Now the works of the flesh are plainly seen, and they are sexual immorality, uncleanness, brazen conduct, 20 idolatry, spiritism, hostility, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, dissensions, divisions, sects, 21 envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and things like these. I am forewarning you about these things, the same way I already warned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit God’s Kingdom.“ We should come to understand this divine list, that we may make sure we are having nothing to do with such works, and be able to understand and help others to flee from and overcome such wrong desires as well. God’s word continues, however, with a superior list: “22 On the other hand, the fruitage of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, 23 mildness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.” So God’s holy spirit produces such good qualities within us that helps safeguard us from works of the flesh. Let us appreciate God’s powerful spirit and all that it can accomplish in our spiritual growth, as Ephesians 4:13 puts it: “13 until we all attain to the oneness of the faith and of the accurate knowledge of the Son of God, to being a full-grown man, attaining the measure of stature that belongs to the fullness of the Christ.” Yes, with the assistance of God’s holy spirit, we can attain spiritual maturity and continue growing in divine love and wisdom, able to assist others in their spiritual growth, that they may do the same for still others.
21. (a) What transformation occurs as one becomes a true follower of Christ? (b) What kind of aspects of personality will true Christians share as they grow spiritually?
21. NEW PERSONALITY. Referring to unclean, selfish works, Colossians 3 says: “6 On account of those things the wrath of God is coming. 7 That is how you too used to conduct yourselves in your former way of life. 8 But now you must put them all away from you: wrath, anger, badness, abusive speech, and obscene talk out of your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another. Strip off the old personality with its practices, 10 and clothe yourselves with the new personality, which through accurate knowledge is being made new according to the image of the One who created it.” Thus as we keep walking by spirit, we can minimize the inclination to practice selfish sinful works of the flesh, putting on the new personality, which we can develop as we take in accurate knowledge of God and his will. Applying the fruitage of the spirit to the new personality, we could say that this personality is loving, joyful, peaceable, patiently loyal, generously kind, good, faithful, gently mild, and self-controlled. And, as it matures, it is practiced in harmony with divine wisdom.
22. (a) What role does light play in the life of a true Christian? (b) How can discernment and foresight assist us to love what is good and hate what is bad in God’s eyes?
22. LIGHT. God’s holy spirit is referred to in the Scriptures as the “spirit of the truth” (John 15:26). Accordingly, “light” in the scriptures reveals truth. Psalm 97 says: “11 Light has flashed up for the righteous And rejoicing for those upright in heart.” Jesus spoke of his disciples as having light: “Let your light shine before men.” And Ephesians 5 expands to say: “8 for you were once darkness, but you are now light in connection with the Lord. Go on walking as children of light, 9 for the fruitage of the light consists of every sort of goodness and righteousness and truth. 10 Keep on making sure of what is acceptable to the Lord; 11 and stop sharing in the unfruitful works that belong to the darkness; rather, expose them for what they are.” So clearly the “works of the flesh” that we read about in Galatians 5 are among the “unfruitful works that belong to the darkness” that we’re to have nothing to do with, rather exposing such for what they are, selfish sinful works that tear us down spiritually rather than build us up. Instead, we are to walk as children of light, loving and practicing “goodness, righteousness, and truth” as fruitage of the light. We do this as we “keep on making sure of what is acceptable to the Lord,” using God-given discernment to appreciate the difference between what is good and bad. “O you who love Jehovah, hate what is bad.” (Psalm 97:10). With foresight, we can wisely look ahead to see the consequences of both a good and bad course, loving the good and hating the bad.
23. Sum up the progress of spiritual growth in the life of a Christian.
23. WALK BY SPIRIT. Thus to summarize, we need to build our faith as we grow in godly wisdom, receiving God’s powerful holy spirit to assist us in seeking spiritual maturity, able to properly love God and others. To this end, we need to take in accurate knowledge of God’s word, allowing that knowledge to mold our thinking, bringing us more in harmony with God’s will and law. We must be obedient to God and His word, as God gives holy spirit to those “obeying Him as ruler.” Obedience is also how we purify ourselves, that we might be able to love one another intensely from the heart. Thus we come to reject selfish sinful works of the flesh, as detailed in Galatians 5:19-21, and rather choose to receive the fruitage of the spirit, qualities that safeguard us from selfishness, as described at Galatians 5:22,23. We should pray for that holy spirit and it’s fruitage daily, as God gives holy spirit to those asking Him. As we reject all badness in speech and actions, we can begin to put on the new personality, which through accurate knowledge is being made new according to the spiritual image of the One who created it. As we do so, we become bearers and children of light, seeking to let our light shine before men, while practicing goodness, righteousness, and truth as fruitage of the light. We reject unfruitful works that belong to the darkness, and expose them for what they are—fleshly, selfish, sinful works that tear down spiritually rather than build up. Practicing foresight, we can wisely look ahead at the consequences of a good or bad course, that we might hate what is bad and love what is good. Thus, may we keep walking by God’s spirit, letting that spirit guide our steps, that we may carry out no fleshly desire at all. And, may we appreciate the light of truth that God reveals through His word the Bible, helping us find and remain on the path that leads to eternal life in true peace and happiness on the foundation of faith in God, with true love for God and others.