Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.

His name was Raphael, and I will never forget him. I knew him a little at Bible College, but he was a few years my senior, both in age and as a student. He was impressive, and I was a little in awe of him and his fierce intelligence, academic brilliance and almost tangible godliness.

One day, he was preaching at a student service, and he referred to the story of Daniel and his friends, being taken to Babylon and given a daily portion of the king’s meat and wine (Dn.1:5). However ( and this was one of Raphael’s points), ‘Daniel discerned a defilement’ (Dn.1:8). He ‘resolved’ not to defile himself in this way.

Many ‘defilements’ are obvious. They are things clearly outlawed in the Bible. But at other times it isn’t like this. We have to ‘discern’ what is not going to be good for us, and avoid it. These things can be subtle rather than blatant, and we need eyes to see what is going to do us harm; we require ‘noses’ that can detect corruption

The extent of the exhortation is this: we are to ‘cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit’.

The life of discipleship calls for an all out war against sin (Matt.5:29,30). There has to be a radical and ruthless approach to it.

Are you aware of anything in your life that is defiling you at the moment, or has the potential to do so? What are you going to do about it?

Remember God’s grace is always available and always sufficient.

‘ With these promises ringing in our ears, dear friends, let us keep clear of anything that smirches body or soul.’ J.B.Phillips