need for any human mediary. The Christian is never to make things a means to an end. To do so is idolatry. That is why it is wrong to have faith in our faith, rather than having faith in Christ. Some people will defend their particu lar system of doctrine so vehe mently that they never reach out to touch Cod. Jehovah told Israel, "Thou shalt have no other gods before me." "Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image." He wants us today to come to Himself. Jesus told the Pharisees of His day, "When you fast, you do not do it by the calendar or in a per functory manner, but rather let it be inner motivations, simply long ing to share with the Father and get close to Him in fellowship." There has to be a matter of hon esty in coming to Cod. Martin Luther sought for peace in his own heart and soul. He longed to know what it was to ex perience justification and forgive ness with God. He cried out, "How can a guilty sinner find peace with God?" One day, while reading the book of Romans, he came to that statement, "The just shall live by faith" (1:17). The conviction of God rolled over his soul as the an swer dawned on his realization. Quickly with his pen he wrote in the margin "sola" (alone). From then on he knew a new peace with God as he had accepted the Lord's free offer of grace as his own ex perience. When we worship the Lord today we really open our lives to Him. Jesus further declared, "Lay not up for yourselves treasures on earth . . . but lay up for yourselves treas ures in heaven." Too often we trust false securities when the only real
assurance can come through faith in our relationship with God. In this way we can stand even while things about us are so shaken. One who has purity of heart moves beyond indecision to com mitment. Some people seem to have tremendous d ifficulties in making up their minds. Christ pointed out, remember, "No man can serve two masters." If God is God then He must be first in your life. The freedom with which God has endowed us means that we have the ability to discern between right and wrong. When we find the meaning of purity of heart we can move with deliberate decision. Such a commitment involves a deep sense of trust in Him. Finally, purity of heart moves beyond anxiety to trust. We are told not to worry about things (Matthew 6:25-34). Before court ship and marriage the question that bothers us is finding the right person. Once married the problem is, rather, being the right person. Jesus' point is that we must con centrate on the matter of develop ing the right kind of personality and ideals. He illustrates this by pointing out that the fowls of the air do not worry. The same is true in the area of flowers and plant life. The entire concept here is one of faith. Really, worry does not make much sense at all. It never changes anything except to make us less effective. We burn up power that could be used more profitably. Some medical doctors and psy chologists tell us that the average person consumes 86% of his psy chic energies keeping guilt feelings repressed. Think of all the power that could be released for joy, free-
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