Pure

The month of February is often a focus of purity. We do the True Love Waits thing at church for students and talk about love and what healthy marriages look like. Roses, flowers, candy, and stuffed animals are seen everywhere covered in a sea of reds and pinks!

Grant me purity of heart so I may honor You. – Psalm 86:11

Purity is much more than just the physical aspect. God calls us to purity in all areas of our lives. This is also applicable to everyone of every age! Purity is not only a focus for students of dating age sitting in a student worship but for every child of God. Several main aspects of life in which we can remain pure stand out to me.

Physical. When we think of purity, usually in our bodies is what comes to mind first. Yes, it’s super important. There is much to say about it and maybe a blog on just this topic for another day! God’s plan is purity for His children. Bottom line. During seminary, I started watching the Bachelor amid writing counseling papers and studying for tests. It was interesting to watch people and follow their lives, however, I am afraid that media we watch allows people, especially impressionable young minds to think that giving purity away is normal. I am afraid we might become so desensitized to it as we see people giving themselves away and love looking disposable and cheap that we miss out on how God desires it. God desires purity to give us the best, not to take fun away. Many adults assume “kids are gonna do it, so we will not try to teach any different.” Not true. Of course if they are not shown a better way, God’s way, they will give in to the world’s standard of living, which shows sleeping around as common place. Most tv shows show people sleeping around as a natural part of dating. God desires purity until marriage and to remain pure for one person. It works best that way. God actually says to “Run from sexual sin! No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one does. For sexual immorality is a sin against your own body. Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body” (1 Corinthians 6:18-20). Secular research actually shows that married couples have better relationships than those who live together before marriage. God’s way is always the best way, even when contrary to popular culture. It is possible for you, a teenager, to remain pure. It is possible for your teenagers, parents, to remain pure. Teach them what purity means. Save yourself for yourself for your husband. Save yourself for your wife. It is possible. Behavior. How do we behave with other people? Finding people who treat other people kindly is sometimes hard to find. Paying attention to how to help and care for other people shows people Jesus. “Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience” (Colossians 3:12). As a teenager, I was an eye-roller and a door-slammer. It did not go over so well at home, but I did not care. I might still be at times… Anyway, we are called to live differently, including our actions. Sitting next to the kid nobody else wants to does not go unnoticed by God. Choosing to be respectful to parents instead of acting like a brat is part of purity. Telling the truth instead of rationalizing a situation to make ourselves feel better is part of pure behavior. Speech. How do we use our mouths? God desires purity in our speech for lifting and building others up and instructs us to “Be done with all deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy, and all unkind speech” (1 Peter 2:1). It is easy to get caught up in talking badly about someone when others are and difficult to say something to stop it. Sure, it’s awkward, but the right thing to do. Purity in the words we use is also important as we “Stay away from corrupt speech” (Proverbs 4:24). If we put ourselves consistently in places where we hear corrupt talk and foul language, of course that is what will come out of our mouths. I can tell when I have watched tv shows with bad language because unfortunately, those are the words that come to mind afterward. We have been called to be different. Purity in all aspects is valuable as it sets us apart from the world and, even though we totally make mistakes as Christians, people will see the difference. People don’t want to see more “Christians” who claim it but live like everyone else. People don’t need another reason to not want anything to do with God. Let’s not give anyone a reason to question what we believe and Who we believe in. Something to think about! How do you stay pure in your life? Love you all!