Most of us have heard talk about "purity" in our Christian circles over the years. Most of the time, people use this term to refer to abstaining from pre-marital sex. Personally, I have rarely heard the term used outside of that context. However, in the Bible purity refers to much more than abstinence.
What is purity? The dictionary gives us this definition. 1. The condition or quality of being pure; freedom from anything that debases, contaminates, pollutes, etc. Purity is freedom from anything that reduces quality or value (debases). When we think about it from a Jesus perspective, ultimate purity is when we are free from sin. Sin reduces our quality and value of life because it excludes Jesus. Jesus calls us to be pure so that we can live full lives, complete in Him.
Matthew 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. (ESV)
In Matthew, Jesus tells us that the pure in heart are blessed. Why? Because they will see God. I don't know about you, but I want to see God a whole lot more in my life! But the fact is, when we are living our lives in sin, it makes it pretty difficult to see God for who He really is. Chapter 1 in Romans discusses how when we ignore God and live in sin, His voice will fade until we hear it no longer. The passage talks about non-Christians, but it also applies to those in Christ. When we follow sin rather than Jesus, over time we stop hearing His Holy Spirit (our "conscience") telling us it's wrong. That leads to a pretty messed up view of God.
Romans 1:21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. (NIV)
When have a pure heart, we begin to see the Lord for who He actually is, without our skewed perspectives. And He is beautiful! But as sinful beings, how do we get a pure heart? The Bible tells us that we are to walk in the ways He's laid out in His word. We are also to invite Jesus to live through us and to heal our hearts. We only get a pure heart by His work in our lives. All we can do is seek Him and ask for His intervention! He will answer that prayer every time. The one thing we cannot do is continue to live in ignorance and believe that continuing a sinful lifestyle is going to bring us any closer to God. It only hurts us.
Psalms 119:9 How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. (ESV)
In Matthew, Jesus tells us that the pure in heart are blessed. Why? Because they will see God. I don't know about you, but I want to see God a whole lot more in my life! But the fact is, when we are living our lives in sin, it makes it pretty difficult to see God for who He really is. Chapter 1 in Romans discusses how when we ignore God and live in sin, His voice will fade until we hear it no longer. The passage talks about non-Christians, but it also applies to those in Christ. When we follow sin rather than Jesus, over time we stop hearing His Holy Spirit (our "conscience") telling us it's wrong. That leads to a pretty messed up view of God.
Romans 1:21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. (NIV)
When have a pure heart, we begin to see the Lord for who He actually is, without our skewed perspectives. And He is beautiful! But as sinful beings, how do we get a pure heart? The Bible tells us that we are to walk in the ways He's laid out in His word. We are also to invite Jesus to live through us and to heal our hearts. We only get a pure heart by His work in our lives. All we can do is seek Him and ask for His intervention! He will answer that prayer every time. The one thing we cannot do is continue to live in ignorance and believe that continuing a sinful lifestyle is going to bring us any closer to God. It only hurts us.
Psalms 119:9 How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. (ESV)
Psalm 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. (ESV)
Psalms 24:3-4 Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully. (ESV)
Today, ask for Jesus' supernatural intervention in your life. Ask Him to step into your heart and every aspect of your life and lead you into purity and holiness. It is a process we are constantly undergoing, being changed from glory to glory into His image. As He changes our hearts bit by bit, we are all the while being able to see more of who He actually is-- loving Father, Savior, redeemer, and friend-- and so much more. Start living in the purity you are called to.
2 Corinthians 3:18 So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord--who is the Spirit--makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image. (NLT)
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