FAITH CAPSULE: Having a pure heart is what will bring man to the face of God.

1 Kings 17:1-7, 18
 
Truly Elijah was a man with nature like ours but unusually nurtured in the Lord when compared to man with nature like him.
It is written, “And Elijah the Tishbite, of the inhabitants of Gilead, said to Ahab, ’As the LORD God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, except at my word.” (1King 17:1) There are points in Elijah’s request that got heaven to be committed to Elijah’s request:
First, Elijah recognized God for who He is: He is the living God and He enjoys that He is actively allowed in our heart; not just in our mouth. He is a jealous God and the antidote of jealousy is giving consistent attention. This is what He says in Jeremiah 12:16, “And it shall be, if they will learn carefully the ways of my people, to swear by my name, ‘As the LORD lives,’ as they taught My people to swear by Baal, then they shall be established in the midst of My people.’” Once you sacrifice your time in learning His ways then opening your mouth and claiming, ‘As my God lives,’ then you are set for exploits. Elijah knew exactly what he was doing when he declared the living God and God decorated him by responding to his request.
Secondly, Elijah called on God’s attention reminding God about his stand by stating, “As I stand”. Your stand before the LORD will determine the exploits you carry out in His Name. Do you have a stand before God? Do you have the understanding of what it is taking a stand before Him? Psalm 24:3-4, identifies what it means to have a stand before God “Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD? Or who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart who has not lifted up his soul to an idol”Having clean hands is the evidence of how we act as an acclaimed child of God. Are you one that constantly has to introduce yourself as a believer? Or are you one that needs not to introduce yourself by your word because your action speaks loud enough introducing you as one with clean hand?Having a pure heart is the evidence of our attitude from inside out. Is your attitude drawing men to God or drawing man away from God?
Do you want to be taking a stand expecting God to move just as He moved on behalf of Elijah? Begin to engage in what it takes to stand as prescribed in the above quotation of the psalmist.
 
Prayer for today:Ask God to wash your hands; not just your hands but from your head to the soul of your feet that you may become pure.