Purity


Purity.

I was thinking about Philippians 4:8-9 two days ago, “Whatsoever things are true, whatever is noble, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is a good report, whatever is virtuous and worthy of praise, think on these things…and the God of peace will be with you.”

I was interested in the phrase, “whatever is pure”. This “freedom from anything that taints, impairs or infects” means more than sexual activity outside the bounds of marriage. It is the tainting of the mind with any ungodly thought: lust, envy, greed, revenge. The point seems to be: think upon purity and you will live purity.

It is hard to be pure in an impure world. Do you know what? The world is no more impure now than it was in the days of Paul, otherwise the admonition to think upon purity would have no meaning. The world has been impure since the days of Cain (Genesis 4), and will remain impure until the return of Jesus Christ. So we may learn from the example of others, even if those others lived long ago.

There are examples given in the scripture of person who focused on pure thoughts and whose lives reflected it. Daniel is such an example.

Daniel lived a pure life in a society that would make Times Square blush. The raw, open hedonism and violence of ancient Persia and Babylon is appalling. Yet, here was Daniel, choosing to think upon and live a life of purity. Amazing! Well, maybe not so amazing – for when we read the story of Daniel’s life, it is said, “But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself…” There it is – “he purposed in his heart.” He had determined to not eat food that had been offered to idols. This determination was extended to other areas of his life as well.

The lesson here is clear. A person must make a determined decision that he or she will focus on that which is pure.

It is interesting to see that Daniel’s determination to think upon the pure and to live that way kept him in a spirit of prayer. Actually, of all the lessons we can learn in studying Daniel’s life, the lesson of prayer’s importance is primary. One thing is for certain in Daniel’s life: he did not consider prayer to be wasted time. He did not just work it in to his busy schedule. He understood that through prayer, he was inviting Divine strength into his soul.

The lesson here is clear also. Prayer invites God’s strengthening presence into our souls. A person can not think pure thoughts and live a pure life apart from God’s help. Prayer is calling to God for this help – a Divine strengthening.

Want to think pure thoughts and live a pure life? Determine that you will focus on the pure, and eliminate the impure. Then pray for Divine strength, inviting God’s morality into your choices.

You will discover God’s peace when you choose…

Purity.