Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
Phil. 4:8
Every single time I hear about purity, I hear the same exact illustration.
Your purity is like a white rose (or dress, or unopened present, etc.). Everyone likes it when it's nice, straight, and white- pure. However, when people touch it, its petals are torn, or it gets dirty, no one wants it anymore.
I HATE this illustration with an unquenchable burning passion. Because, - here's the deal - we are all that distorted, dirty, and destroyed rose, yet God is jealous for us. God wants us so desperately that he sent his son to die so that we could spend eternity with him, despite our incredible impurity.
We have all been touched, stained, and torn by the world. We have all fallen short of the glory of God. Titus 1:15 says, "To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled." We live in a world where "nothing is pure." But that's exactly what God calls us to be. He wants us to have a pure heart, pure wisdom, pure devotion, pure religion, pure conduct, and pure faith. So, how do we do that?
I John 3:3 says, "And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure." If we put our hope, or trust, our faith, and our lives in God's hands, we'll be as pure as God is. If we don't put our hopes into things of the world, whether it be money, people, careers, fantasies, or dreams, we'll find purity. We'll find that God is our portion. God is all we need. We don't need God alongside something worldly and impure. If we trust in him, he promises to empty us of the world's influence and overwhelm us with his pure love, grace, joy, and justice.
God is truth. God and all of his creation is deserving of honor. God is justice. God is purity. Think about these things.
"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God."
Matt. 5:8
Phil. 4:8
Every single time I hear about purity, I hear the same exact illustration.
Your purity is like a white rose (or dress, or unopened present, etc.). Everyone likes it when it's nice, straight, and white- pure. However, when people touch it, its petals are torn, or it gets dirty, no one wants it anymore.
I HATE this illustration with an unquenchable burning passion. Because, - here's the deal - we are all that distorted, dirty, and destroyed rose, yet God is jealous for us. God wants us so desperately that he sent his son to die so that we could spend eternity with him, despite our incredible impurity.
We have all been touched, stained, and torn by the world. We have all fallen short of the glory of God. Titus 1:15 says, "To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled." We live in a world where "nothing is pure." But that's exactly what God calls us to be. He wants us to have a pure heart, pure wisdom, pure devotion, pure religion, pure conduct, and pure faith. So, how do we do that?
I John 3:3 says, "And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure." If we put our hope, or trust, our faith, and our lives in God's hands, we'll be as pure as God is. If we don't put our hopes into things of the world, whether it be money, people, careers, fantasies, or dreams, we'll find purity. We'll find that God is our portion. God is all we need. We don't need God alongside something worldly and impure. If we trust in him, he promises to empty us of the world's influence and overwhelm us with his pure love, grace, joy, and justice.
God is truth. God and all of his creation is deserving of honor. God is justice. God is purity. Think about these things.
"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God."
Matt. 5:8
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