TOPIC: AVOID SPIRITUAL DEFILEMENT
TEXT: Haggai 2:10-14(NKJV)
2:10. On the twenty-fourth [day] of the ninth [month,] in the second year of Darius, the word of the LORD came by Haggai the prophet, saying,
2:11. “Thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘Now, ask the priests [concerning the] law, saying,
2:12. “If one carries holy meat in the fold of his garment, and with the edge he touches bread or stew, wine or oil, or any food, will it become holy?” ‘ ” Then the priests answered and said, “No.”
2:13. And Haggai said, “If [one who is] unclean [because] of a dead body touches any of these, will it be unclean?” So the priests answered and said, “It shall be unclean.”
2:14. Then Haggai answered and said, ” ‘So is this people, and so is this nation before Me,’ says the LORD, ‘and so is every work of their hands; and what they offer there is unclean.
STUDY:
In our text today, two questions were asked and were meant to be answered by the Priests. The first was whether a garment used to bear Holy Meat would become clean. In other words, will the garment become clean by touching Holy Meat? The answer was no. The second question was whether something unclean (by touching a dead body) can make something else that is clean (holy) to become unclean. The answer was yes, meaning that the unclean thing will defile a clean thing, causing it to become unclean-like itself. Thus, the point being emphasized by the two questions was that it is easier to become unclean (defiled) than it is to be made clean (made Holy). There are great lessons for us to learn from this passage.
As we interact with people and the environment, we need at all times to be careful lest we become defiled by the immoral people that we relate with in the course of our daily transactions. One of the things that easily causes defilement is evil association (1 Cor. 6:14-18) and some often-overlooked sinful habits (Heb.12:1-3). The world today is full of wicked and sinful people whose daily lives are corrupted by habitual, ungodly and criminal lifestyles. Most of these people are deeply religious and some of them even occupy high positions in the church. They also give to charity and humanitarian services, thinking that they can use good works to erase their sins or make themselves clean. This is not possible. The sure way to be cleansed from the guilt of sin is by honest confession and genuine repentance and cleansing by the blood of the lamb (Act 3:19).
PRAYER:
Dear Lord, I rely on the blood of Christ for my cleansing. Help me daily to live by the power of your Holy Spirit and to remain undefiled, Amen.
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