Pursuing Jesus Through Purity: Part 2

On Monday, I posted the first two points for Adam Tyson’s breakout session entitled, “Pursuing Purity in an Impure World” as well as my comments on what I learned for each point. See Monday’s post HERE. After writing quite a bit for each point, I’ve decided to only post Point 3 and my thoughts today and Point 4 on Monday.

“³ For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality; ⁴ that each of you know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, ⁵ not in lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God; ⁶ and that no man transgress and defraud his brother in the matter because the Lord is the avenger in all these things, just as we also told you before and solemnly warned you. ⁷ For God has not called us for the purpose of impurity, but in sanctification. ⁸ So, he who rejects this is not rejecting man but the God who gives His Holy Spirit to you.”

1 Thessalonians 4:3-8

Of all the cups of water pictured above, which ones would you want to drink? I know I’d only want to drink the one on the far right. Even though the one on the left is the dirtiest, the one next to the purest one still looks pretty nasty. It’s not that dirty, you say. But it is still impure. Even a little sin—even a little impurity—can taint the whole glass.

That’s why complete purity is so important.

3.     We don’t have “rights.” Especially in this area of our life. We don’t have rights because we don’t own ourselves—Christ does.

A lot of times we’re influenced by the way the culture thinks: that we deserve pleasure. We deserve to do whatever we want with our hearts, minds, and bodies. We deserve these things and we are at liberty to get them by whatever means we can.

This is not true. We deserve to go to hell for our sin. But Christ paid the penalty for our sin. Now we belong to Him. Now our hearts, minds, and bodies belong to Him.

Because of that, we need to guard our minds/hearts.

“Watch over your heart with all diligence,

For from it flow the springs of life.”

Proverbs 4:23

“I have made a covenant with my eyes;

How then could I gaze at a virgin?”

Job 31:1

(Though we’re ladies, this principle of purity still applies to us.)

“If your right hand makes you stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to go into hell.”

 Matthew 5:30

Have you noticed that in most movies and books now, the hero and heroine fall in love based on their physical attraction to each other? This is because the world has a warped view of love. They often confuse love and lust.

        

Love: doing what’s best for the other person. Selfless perspective.

Lust: doing what’s best for me. Selfish perspective.

Whenever you find yourself “falling in love” or being tempted to sin, ask your these questions, “Do I want to give to this person or take? Are my motives selfless or selfish?”

“We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.”

1 John 4:16

God loves us with a pure love. He gives us the ability to love with a pure love.

Ladies, there are guys out there who will try to tell you they love you when really they only lust after you. If they truly love you, they will protect your purity. If they lust after you, they will try to compromise it.  Don’t be manipulated!! Don’t fall for this trap! Don’t believe their lies!

If you are tempted to see how close you can get, that is a major red flag that you are either in or you desire a relationship that will not glorify God. It’s a sign you are “following your heart.” It will make you more prone to believing the lies that ungodly guys and Satan will try to make you believe.

Don’t follow your heart.

Ever.

Follow God.

How do you fight for purity in your life? Any stories? Share in the comments!