Pursuing Jesus Through Purity: Part 1

            Recently, I attended a breakout session titled, “Pursuing Purity in an Impure World,” by Adam Tyson. I wanted to share some of my thoughts on what I learned in that session, using his four main points. I will post his first two points and my commentary today and his last two points and my thoughts on Friday.

“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

In order to pursue Jesus--a holy God--we must ourselves me holy. We must be pure. "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." (Matthew 5:8) 

Purity on our own is impossible, but God can create purity in us. However, it’s a process. I have to fight for purity in my life—especially as our world grows darker and darker every day. Temptation is everywhere. You can’t even go grocery shopping without being assaulted by inappropriate pictures on magazines. The Internet is full of it.

Temptation is rampant.

But as Christians, we must strive for purity. We must fight for it.

How do we pursue purity in an impure world?

1.     Abstain from any kind of sexual immorality (vs. 3)

Abstain: far off, avoid, running away.

Abstaining is running away from everything that carries a hint. God’s will for my life is my sanctification, which means completely abstaining from sexual immorality. This includes every hint in body, mind, and heart. We must be completely pure.

In our culture, the motto is, “If it feels good, do it.” We must avoid that motto! It is dangerous!

A lot of times, questions are asked, “Should we kiss before we are married? Should we kiss before we’re engaged? What about this? What about that?” Almost always, the real question behind those are, “How close can I get?” Don’t ask that question. Instead, ask, “How far can I run?” Because even just “a little” can lead to sin in heart and mind, if not in body.

2.     Learn to have self-control (vs. 4-5)

Self-control involves every part of a person, including eyes, mind, hands, heart, etc. We need to learn to control our members. We must “possess” ourselves in holiness and not let sin drag us down.

Self-control means purifying our thought life (see The Springboard Approach by Liza Grace) and our motives. 

Having self-control also means not letting yourself believe or act upon the lie that you need a guy. It means resting in God and believing His Word, and acting upon that.

What thoughts do you have on pursuing purity? 

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Remembering Elisabeth Elliot: Day 24

“The Word of God I think of as a straight edge, which shows up our own crookedness. We can’t really tell how crooked our thinking is until we line it up with the straight edge of Scripture.”

-Elisabeth Elliot

As a girl raised in a Christian home, I’ve always been “the good girl.” Comparing myself to others fed my pride and made me think, “I’m really not that bad.”

It wasn’t until I started catching glimpses of the holiness of Christ through the pages of Scripture that I realized I wasn’t “not that bad.”

Compared to people around us, we may look pretty good. But the people around us aren’t the standard—it’s the holy God of the universe. Compared to Him, we are filthy.

The Bible shows us what we truly are.

However, it also shows who God is—and He is a gracious God willing to forgive us of our iniquities and make us straight like Him.

Have you considered yourself “pretty good?” When has God showed you His holiness in the Bible and convicted you of your own sin? Share in the comments!

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Remembering Elisabeth Elliot: Day 23

“The work of God is done on God’s timetable. His answers to our prayers come always in time—His time. His thoughts are far higher than ours, His wisdom past understanding.”

-Elisabeth Elliot

Have you noticed how many of Elisabeth Elliot’s quotes are about trusting God? It’s so important—and yet it’s so easy to rely on ourselves or worry instead of placing our faith in God!

Isn’t it incredible that we serve a God whose thoughts are wise beyond the wisdom or even comprehension of man? All the more reason I should trust Him with His timing.

What experiences in your life have caused you to put your faith in God’s timing? Share in the comments!

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Remembering Elisabeth Elliot: Day 22

“God has promised to supply our needs. What we don’t have now we don’t need now.”

-Elisabeth Elliot

I LOVE this quote. Such a great reminder! I easily get caught up in discontentment, wishing and wanting for things to happen or the Next Step in life.

I don’t need what I don’t have. And the things that I think would be good for me are, in fact—at this moment in time—not good for me. Because if they were, I’d have them.

What are your thoughts on this quote? Has there been a time when you realized that something you want isn’t what is good for you? Share in the comments!

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The Springboard Approach

By Liza Grace

I don’t know about y’all but my thought life isn’t something I’d want played on a giant TV for all my friends to see! My thoughts can be harsh, discouraging, uncharitable, unkind, ungodly, and selfish.

I was very aware of that and tried to clean up my thought life but I didn’t know how. Then I heard of what my family calls the Springboard Approach. I don’t even remember how I heard of it, but it has helped me grow in my thought life and enabled me to even glorify God with my thoughts!

The Springboard Approach is simply to turn to Scripture, prayer or godly song or poem lyrics when you think a bad thought. Just like you can’t shove all the darkness out of a room to make it light, you also can’t just stop thinking bad thoughts hoping good ones will pop into your mind!

This can be difficult and it requires a lot of will power, but I personally think it’s one of the best things you could do (Besides accepting Jesus!) because what fills your heart and mind comes out in your speech and actions.

The Springboard Approach can be used in many different areas! I like to use it to deal with crushes and comparison.  As soon as I think of that special someone or I catch myself harshly judging someone for their looks I can “spring” from that thought straight to Scripture!

This is a great tool also because if Satan knows that every time you think a bad thought you go straight to the Scriptures, he will stop sending those thoughts!

Like I said, this requires a lot of will power sometimes! But its so worth it to glorify our great big God with our minds!

“Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.”

Matthew 5:8

“I have stored up Your Word in my heart, that I might not sin against You.”

Psalm 119:11

Practical Tips:

--Make a list of the sorts of sinful thoughts that enter your mind (like comparison) and set up springboards for each one. Mine have a person to pray for and a memory verse.

--Whenever you catch yourself sinning with your mind, recall your springboards. It takes a lot of practice, diligence, and God’s grace, but killing impure thoughts will purify your motives, attitudes, words, etc.

--When you fail, don’t give up. Because God’s grace is stronger and bigger than your sins. “For I am confident in this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:6)  

What do you think about the Springboard Approach? Do you plan on using it? What sorts of springboards would you use? Share in the comments!

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