Filthiness and Lewdness

SCRIPTURE: Ezekiel 24:13 In your filthiness is lewdness. Because I have cleansed you, and you were not cleansed, You will not be cleansed of your filthiness anymore, Till I have caused My fury to rest upon you.

OBSERVATION: God reveals an important distinction between filthiness and lewdness. Filthiness is stain from sin past: mistakes, errors, etc. God can clean filthiness. In fact, He has already done it ("I have cleansed You"). He has made provision for cleansing from the filthiness of sin. All who appropriate it are cleansed from filthiness. They are made clean from their sin.
Lewdness is quite different, though often hidden by filthiness. Filthiness is always present where there is lewdness, but lewdness is not always present where there is filthiness. According to this verse, the most simple distinction is this: When a person does not want to be cleansed from their filthiness, when they would rather remain filthy than be cleansed, that is lewdness. Not just the result of filthiness which happens to all, but the love of filthiness -- that is lewdness. Lewdness isn't cleansed because lewdness doesn't want to be cleansed.

APPLICATION: Beware of lewdness is all of its forms. Sometimes it is subtle, even religious. Lewdness can even be based on a presumption of God's grace. "Do not use liberty as a cloak for vice." God will cleanse filthiness. But lewdness -- the continuing desire to disobey God -- will not be cleansed.
Don't become calloused to sin. Don't be a presumptive sinner. Don't put a cloak of liberty over lewdness. Instead, continually be cleansed. "If we confess our sin, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sin, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

PRAYER: Lord, give me a discerning spirit and a pure heart to sift out truth. Make me a courageous spokesman. Cleanse me and I will be whiter than snow. Amen.