Christ loved the church and gave himself for her. —Ephesians 5:25
Ephesians 5:25 teaches that Christ’s death on the cross was birthed out of His commitment to a love relationship. The next verse reveals His ultimate purpose for the church—“to make her holy, cleansing her with the washing of water by the word” (v. 26).
What is the “water” God uses to purify us? The Holy Spirit takes the Word and applies it to our hearts to purify them.
Frequently both before and after reading the Word, I will ask God to use it to wash the innermost parts of my heart. I ask Him who sees and knows all to expose anything in my heart that is not holy. Once I see what He reveals, I agree with God, confess it as sin, and ask Him to cleanse me by the blood and the Word of Christ.
Having cleansed us from sin by the washing of His Word, God then uses the Scripture to protect our hearts from sinning against Him. “How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping your word” (Psalm 119:9).
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A Place of Quiet Rest: Finding Intimacy with God through a Daily Devotional Life ©2000 Nancy Leigh DeMoss
Scripture taken from The CSB
Make it Personal
How can God use His Word to protect you from sinning against Him?