I noticed that as I read verses about purity, something of extreme worth is being described. The word is used hand in hand with precious metals like gold and silver as well. Often, when something is described as pure, it has a special purpose or is for God. Purity is something that is esteemed highly in the Christian world, something that is fallen from, and something that is strove for.
In the outside world, something is always more expensive and sought after if it is pure. Water, gold, and even pure-bred animals--they're all "better" if they're pure. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the definition of pure can be the following: unmixed with any other matter; free from what vitiates, weakens, or pollutes; containing nothing that does not properly belong.
The heart can be pure. God says that the mouth speaks what the overflow of the heart is (Matthew 12:34). What is coming out of your mouth? Is it entirely pure? What are you filling your heart with? If what you look at and listen to is not entirely pure, your heart will be filled with things that do not belong and what you say will be a reflection of that. "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." Matthew 5:8
As much as our society says otherwise, you can dwell upon pure things. If the Bible instructs it, then it is not impossible, for all things are possible with God!(Mark 10:27). "Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things." Philippians 4:8
Religion can be pure. "Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of {our} God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, {and} to keep oneself unstained by the world." James 1:27
People can be pure. "And everyone who has this hope {fixed} on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure." 1 John 3:3
After becoming impure, it is so easy feel defeated, be consumed with guilt, and allow forgiven sin to creep into the present. But when our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ died on the cross, He did not die a halfway death. SO, when one is redeemed by the imperishable, precious, priceless blood of Christ, he or she is not halfway redeemed! Sure, allow guilt to lead you to repentance, but once one is forgiven, he or she can claim the victory of Christ with great and noble triumph! You have been redeemed! Your sin is gone! Take up your bed and walk! With great valiance, God said, "Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine!" Isaiah 43:1 As much as people seek to acquire a pure product, I've often wondered how much more beautiful and how much more precious and how much more I'd prize a product that has been MADE pure because with it comes a story of my Savior's forgiving and redeeming grace. Because what is a story without grace but a self-righteous goblet of mud?
2 comments:
this is great Steph! I just wrote on the verse about our mouth speaking from the overflow of our heart - purity is such an important topic!
It is funny that the world would have you believe that everything else is better pure-- except a life. Oh, it is valued to the owner, but to the world as a whole, it's "better" to be impure.
I think that part of this is that we all know that we are sinners, and when someone lives a pure life it is convicting to those areas where we fall short. How often is the boy or girl that is striving to be pure ridiculed because of it, and yet I'm sure that deep down there's a jealousy in some lives.
Great reminders about why we are to be pure and the value of it.
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