We at first have to ask the question. What is purity? Websters dictionary puts it as many things and says free from what vitiates, weakens, or pollutes: containing nothing that does not properly belong: free from moral fault or guilt. Being clean of heart. A person that's sold drugs, themselves and harbors anger and greed, would be the opposite of pure. Being pure is a wonderful thing, being pure means we approach situations and others with less preconceived notions seeing them as they really are. respond to situations without as cleanly as honestly. If we are not pure we see life through a sieve. If a guy has been abused and abuses others his whole life he may have the tendency to lash out on others in an unexpected manner over small issues.
I don't know if certain age groups struggle with this more or less but I do know a newborn baby seems so innocent and pure, life hasn't had the opportunity to treat it poorly hasn't had the time to crush their heart and hopes.
What images we allow into our life effects us slowly. If someone watched murderous movies everyday it would contain their thoughts, then their words and would eventually change their perspectives and actions toward violence. If someone watched sexual images everyday, they would start thinking of sex more often. It would eventually flow into their humor and interests and alter how they see the other gender. Maybe seeing the opposite gender as objects instead of people or dress themselves in ways that are provocative.
What we allow into our mind through images and conversations form who we are. What is too much, is a gray area, its different for every person. but we must think, what harm are you subjecting ourselves to? Impure thoughts lead to impure words which lead to impure actions Often we allow little bits of things into our lives that are not of God. So then we start thinking of these things more often. This leads to us joking about them, then talking about them and finally acting on them. Often great acts of moral failure are supported my small acts of allowing impurity to come into our lives. It’s a snowball effect. We must stop the fire before it gets out of control.
Philippians 4:6-9 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
What are things that are right, pure, lovely and admirable? Are the images and words we use in our life admirable? praiseworthy?
If we have a difficulty wondering whether or not something is too much for us to handle we can pray and ask God to show us whether or not it's right and he will convict our spirit toward one way or another.
When it comes to our own levels of purity we’re ultimately in charge of what we allow into our lives. The beauty of this is that nobody can force us to be impure, we choose what we want to allow into our lives. Also the downfall is that nobody can force us to be pure as much as we want to be as well. Truthfully it’s our responsibility and our blame if you will. Our community is here to “rescue” us when we start to fall and allow junk to build up in our lives, but yet we are fundamentally individuals tied to a community.
1 Corinthians 10:12-13 So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! 13No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
1 comment:
We at first have to ask the question. What is purity? Websters dictionary puts it as many things and says free from what vitiates, weakens, or pollutes: containing nothing that does not properly belong: free from moral fault or guilt. Being clean of heart. A person that's sold drugs, themselves and harbors anger and greed, would be the opposite of pure. Being pure is a wonderful thing, being pure means we approach situations and others with less preconceived notions seeing them as they really are. respond to situations without as cleanly as honestly. If we are not pure we see life through a sieve.
If a guy has been abused and abuses others his whole life he may have the tendency to lash out on others in an unexpected manner over small issues.
I don't know if certain age groups struggle with this more or less but I do know a newborn baby seems so innocent and pure, life hasn't had the opportunity to treat it poorly hasn't had the time to crush their heart and hopes.
What images we allow into our life effects us slowly. If someone watched murderous movies everyday it would contain their thoughts, then their words and would eventually change their perspectives and actions toward violence.
If someone watched sexual images everyday, they would start thinking of sex more often. It would eventually flow into their humor and interests and alter how they see the other gender. Maybe seeing the opposite gender as objects instead of people or dress themselves in ways that are provocative.
What we allow into our mind through images and conversations form who we are.
What is too much, is a gray area, its different for every person. but we must think, what harm are you subjecting ourselves to?
Impure thoughts lead to impure words which lead to impure actions
Often we allow little bits of things into our lives that are not of God. So then we start thinking of these things more often. This leads to us joking about them, then talking about them and finally acting on them. Often great acts of moral failure are supported my small acts of allowing impurity to come into our lives. It’s a snowball effect. We must stop the fire before it gets out of control.
Philippians 4:6-9 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
What are things that are right, pure, lovely and admirable? Are the images and words we use in our life admirable? praiseworthy?
If we have a difficulty wondering whether or not something is too much for us to handle we can pray and ask God to show us whether or not it's right and he will convict our spirit toward one way or another.
When it comes to our own levels of purity we’re ultimately in charge of what we allow into our lives. The beauty of this is that nobody can force us to be impure, we choose what we want to allow into our lives. Also the downfall is that nobody can force us to be pure as much as we want to be as well. Truthfully it’s our responsibility and our blame if you will. Our community is here to “rescue” us when we start to fall and allow junk to build up in our lives, but yet we are fundamentally individuals tied to a community.
1 Corinthians 10:12-13 So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! 13No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
Are we following God’s will or our own?
Post a Comment