A life of
purity is easier than you think. You just need to do this one thing.
"... Be an example
to the believers ... in purity ... " (1 Tim. 4:12).
At first glance, purity
may seem the same as holiness, which we discussed last week. But they are not
the same. Holiness means to be set apart, whereas purity is how you conduct
yourself because you're consecrated. Purity is the by-product of holiness.
"For the word of
God is alive, and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even
to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and able to judge the
thoughts and intents of the heart" (Heb. 4:12).
God's Word is not merely
letters on paper. It's alive! It is so sharp it can separate the soul from the
spirit and, in the process, reveal our hidden thoughts and attitudes. So as
holy people, let's urge each other onward toward the mark God sets before us,
rather than compromising His standards.
" ... Do you not
know that the friendship with the world is enmity with God?" (James 4:4).
Never before has the
call to purity been more pressing or difficult. Yet compromise is difficult
too. When we walk with one foot in both worlds, we experience struggle because
our hearts are divided. Keep in mind, your actions will follow the direction
set by your heart.
There is an urgent cry
in the spirit for us to awaken to righteousness. How do we do this? We use the
Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God, to sever every entanglement tethering our
hearts to this fallen world.
This week, invite the
Holy Spirit to examine your heart and motives by the light of His Word. Ask the Great Physician to remove the precious from
the vile. Let us be a people who embrace the Word of truth and turn aside from
the standards of this world—so that we can set an example of purity for God's
glory!
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