Colossians 3:1-3

If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

Colossians 3:1-3

Photo by Amanda T.

Who's Running This Life??

By Ana Renee

Wait a second. I thought this month’s theme was purity? Did someone accidentally schedule this post?

Perhaps I should explain my seemingly random choice of topic. Choices made based on our feelings, emotions, and intellect are a reflection of “self” running one’s life. Yielding our feelings, emotions, and intellect to God’s will and basing our actions on His Word is a reflection of God running one’s life.

Purity is one of those areas that can be saved or shipwrecked depending upon who is in control. Galatians 5:22-23 lists qualities that are a reflection of us living according to God’s Word: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”

If you notice, the conduct of a person not living according to God’s Word is listed previously: “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” (Galatians 5:19-21)

The first three “works of the flesh” are specific points that reflect a lack of purity: “adultery, fornication, uncleanness.”

Galatians goes on to say, “And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” (verses 24-25) If we are true followers of Christ, then we should not be running our lives! We should be walking in God’s Spirit.

Photo by Amanda T.

So, how does this affect purity? I will give you just two examples.

I will save all of my affections for after marriage

Flesh:

       “But I’m going to marry him anyway!”

       {Fill in the blank with any excuse}

Bible:

        “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” (Proverbs 4:23)

        “Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.” (Hebrews 13:4)

         “Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman. Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.” (1 Corinthians 7:1-2)

I will keep my thoughts pure

Flesh:

       “It really doesn’t matter if I think about him; after all, he might be my husband.”

       "Thoughts don't affect me"

       {Fill in the blank with any excuse}

Bible:

       “. . . for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts . . .” (1 Chronicles 28:9)

      “Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, Thou understandest my thought afar off.” (Psalm 139:2)

      “Hell and destruction are before the LORD: how much more then the hearts of the children of men?” (Proverbs 15:11)

      “Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in [God’s] sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.” (Hebrews 4:13)

These two examples are very clear pictures of what can happen when we leave our decisions up to our fleshly lusts and desires. To keep us from making unwise decisions, God has given us His Word. It is our light (Psalm 119:105), our counselor (Psalm 119:24), and our guide (Psalm 73:24). But if we neglect to use it, we will be left in the dark without counsel and guidance. It is our responsibility to study the Bible and ask God for direction (2 Timothy 2:15).

Spirit-controlled choices are based on God’s Word and His guidance. Flesh-controlled choices are based on emotions, feelings, and intellect.

Who is running your life?

Incline my heart unto Thy testimonies, and not to covetousness.

Psalm 119:36

Dreams

Photo by Amanda T.

“We so easily allow our thoughts and emotions to be caught up in various ‘knights,’ 

using our time to dream about what could be, rather than concentrating on what is.”

“Tomorrow’s hopes fog our concentration for today.”

 (His Chosen Bride, by Jennifer Lamp)

James 4:8

Photo by Amanda T.

Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you. 

Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; 

and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

James 4:8

Psalm 119:9, 11

Photo by Amanda T.

Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to Thy Word.

Thy Word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against Thee.

Psalm 119:9, 11

A Gift to Offer

“One of the best gifts that can be offered to both the Lord and a husband is 

purity of heart, soul and body.” 

(His Chosen Bride, by Jennifer Lamp)

Photo by Amanda T.

Saving Our Gift

By Guest Writer, Amanda T.

One word that sends a thrill of excitement through any girl is the word “wedding.” Most of us cannot wait for that special day when we shall become the wife of a handsome young man.

The first “wedding” took place in Genesis 2, when God brought Eve to Adam to be his wife. Eve was a gift to her husband just like each of us girls will be a gift to some young man. How special it will be for our dad to walk us up the aisle and present us as a gift to our husband.

Photos by Amanda T.

Here, we must stop dreaming and ask a sobering question: in what shape will this present be when our husband receives it? I do not mean will we be slender and attractive; we must look deeper – on the inside. Will our heart be pure and reserved only for our husband? Or will we be tattered and worn from living a life of “play” with every handsome young man we meet?

If you picture a gift, you might think of a beautiful package with shiny, unmarred wrapping and ribbons tied at the top. Change this picture to a young girl. She is pure in heart with innocence hovering over her like ribbons. This young lady reaches her early teens and her perspective of life changes. She notices that there are handsome, likeable boys that are more than willing to give her attention. So, she dangles a ribbon in their face, tempting them, saying, “You want to get a peek of what I’m like?”  This is called flirting. Many boys react to this flirting by accepting the young girl’s offer. Often, this step is repeated again and again, until the ribbons are all frayed, tattered, or torn from pulls by young men.

As a girl gets older, she begins to “date around” to find her husband. Instead of living a life of peace and contentment, her life is filled with worries about “Will he like me? What if he breaks up with me?” In the meanwhile, her wrapping is getting soiled and perhaps torn in places.

Finally, “Mr. Right” comes and the girl proceeds to her wedding. When her husband receives this gift on their wedding day, it is no longer the beautiful package we first saw – pure and innocent – with clean wrapping and delightful ribbons. Instead, it is marred and in need of repair. What godly young man would like to receive such a gift?

For those of you who have not dangled your ribbons before boys; let me challenge you to stay pure! Do not worry about “catching” young men’s attention!! Instead, focus on serving the Lord and let Him bring your future husband to you. Purity is a gift that once opened, can never be re-wrapped in the perfect way it was before.

For those of you who have already spent your life flirting and worrying about attracting boys, may I challenge you to consider the path your feet are taking you! If the Lord is asking you to save your heart for the one young man that will become your husband, please hearken to Him! He will forgive and mend the broken heart and is so ready to help your feet find a straighter, safer path on which to travel.

“Keep (Guard) thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” (Proverbs 4:20) You have a precious gift in your hands . . . will you purpose to keep it pure and clean for your husband?

~~~

Guest Writer Amanda Tero:

"My dad is the pastor of a Baptist church; Mom has been home-schooling us for twenty-three years; I am the fifth home-schooled graduate in our family of twelve and am waiting on the Lord's timing for marriage. Until He shows me a different path, I enjoy teaching piano, playing for our church congregation, arranging hymns, learning more about music, writing, taking pictures, and helping out around the house. My family and I have sung and played instruments (guitar, banjo, violin, mandolin, and others) together for the past eleven years. God has opened the doors for us to share His love through song in the local nursing home and Council on Aging as well as various churches around our area and in a few other states.
You can visit our family blog at www.terofamilyministries.com."

A Pure Heart

Today's post is a chapter from "Beautiful Girlhood" by Mabel Hale

Originally published in 1922, it is now Public Domain

Photos by Amanda T.

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

What a pleasure to look forth upon the earth on a clear morning after a snowstorm, when over all is spread the covering of pure whiteness, hiding every defect and blemish, surmounting all that is unclean and ugly, transforming every stick and clod into things of beauty, leaving only blue sky above and pure whiteness below! Or what a pleasure to stand at the brink of a clear, calm pool, looking into its depths without observing one thing unclean, and then to put to your lips a cup of the crystal liquid fresh from the spring that feeds the pool, and drink to your fill!

What a sense one feels standing on the top of the mountain height, far above the dust and smoke of the lower regions, and there drinking in the pure air, and gazing as far as the eye can carry in every direction, the sight unobstructed by the thickness and gloom of lower levels! Or, again, what a sense of the Infinite one feels out under the clear sky, there beholding the stars shining forth with all their beauty and brightness, pure revelations of the mighty power of God!

To look into the depths of a child’s innocent eyes and see there but the innocence and guiltlessness of one who has never sinned will soften the hard heart. To look into the clear, fearless eye of the man or woman whose heart is free from condemnation of sin, or to see the quietness and confidence of old age that has come to its own with cleanness of hands and purity of heart, gives strength to those who falter. The look of innocent pleasure in the eyes of a modest maiden gladdens all who behold it.

Everywhere purity and clearness are admired and appreciated. Pure air, pure water, pure food, pure associations, pure ideals, pure aspirations—all are needed for upright living.

The purity that counts for most in your life and mine is purity of heart. It is possible for us to live with the very seat of our affections cleansed from that which is sinful, and our hearts made pure. The heart can be made a fit temple into which to ask the Lord to come and be the inhabitant.

One of the things every young Christian girl soon becomes aware of is the natural sinfulness of her own heart. When she is trying to do that which is right, evil thoughts and feelings will arise. She is tempted to be proud and selfish; and under certain provocation she feels the workings of anger in her heart, though by looking to God for help she keeps her lips from speaking out her feelings. Sometimes she is startled by feelings of jealousy and envy, two things that must not be allowed in the life of a Christian. She will find it hard at times to follow the Lord fully, to entirely do His will. If she will seek out the real desire of her heart, she will find that she wants a closer walk with God; yet when she tries to walk closer she is all the more conscious of these sinful impulses. If she understood herself she would know she needed a pure heart.

If a girl will come to God with her perplexities and tell Him the struggle she is having with “foes within,” and fully consecrate her life to Him, saying from the depth of her heart, “Lord, I give my life to Thee. Thou mayest have every part of it. Cleanse my heart and make it a fit place for Thee to dwell,” and trusting God to do what she has asked Him to do, she may have a pure heart.

God will cleanse out those sinful principles from her nature and make her a conqueror. Not that she will no more be tempted; but instead of those inward struggles that are so hard to master, she will find inward grace and strength to overcome.

There is a heavenly Visitor who will come in and fill the heart that is fully given to God, so that instead of those sinful impulses ruling there, this sweet Spirit of God will reign.

The experience of heart purity is not for anyone who cherishes any thought or feeling that is impure. If envy, or jealousy, or pride, or arrogance, or any kindred evil is allowed a place, the Spirit of God will not come to cleanse and fill his temple.

It seems to me a most wonderful thing, this deliberate giving over of oneself and life for God alone. There is a rest of spirit, and a quiet confidence, a joyfulness, and a perfection of love and peace in the heart of the one thus given over to God that cannot be described in words. Nor is this experience for only a favored few. Everyone who will seek God with all his heart, who will draw close, may have this experience of a pure heart.

~~~

Some key phrases stuck out to me as I read this:

          The look of innocent pleasure in the eyes of a modest maiden gladdens all who behold it.

          Everyone who will seek God with all his heart, who will draw close, may have this experience of a pure heart.

Finally, the one that challenged me the most:

          The experience of heart purity is not for anyone who cherishes any thought or feeling that is impure.

One cannot love their lustful daydreams and expect to be pure.

Lusts

Lust is a very strong word, but it is something that is mentioned fairly often in the Bible. Because of the frequent mention, we get a good idea of what lust is, what God thinks of lust, and how to escape it.

Lust is sin. It is from the world and not from God.

      “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.” (1 John 2:16)

Lust leads to dangerous territory.

      “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” (James 1:14-15)

We must flee from lust.

      “Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” (2 Timothy 2:22)

      “Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;” (1 Peter 2:11)

We must fight against lust by putting on Christ and living for Him.

      “But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.” (Romans 13:14)

      “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.” (Galatians 5:16-17)

      “Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” (Titus 2:12-14)

Lust is a trap that we can fall into if we are not constantly striving to follow God and His perfect will for our lives. Whenever tempted in this area, we need to remember to “Flee or fight!”

Photo taken and submitted by Amanda Tero

~~~
Guest Photographer Amanda Tero
Read more about our guest photographer here.