Don't Be Impure!

"For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life" 1 Thessalonians 4:7

When we as Christians hear the word impure, we most often think of it as a reference to sexual purity. Granted, it is often exactly what the Scripture is talking about. Even in this passage the previous verse references sexual immorality and encourages each of us to control our lusts. It even says that we should not sin against one another or take advantage of one another. To make sure that we are honoring one another. Pure means sexually pure. In our world today we seem to have an uneven view of sexual sin. Christians can rail against homosexuality and the wrongness of it while turning a blind eye to adultery and fornication (sex before marriage). When Paul addresses impurity and is referring to sexual immorality he is talking about all of it. We need to be pure towards one another, in all relationships.

Let me develop this one more step. Pure and holy living also refers to a purity of speech and action. Lying, gossip, backbiting and slander are also impurities that need to be washed from our lives. We are not going to be perfect in our quest to be pure and holy, but we should put forth a stronger effort. We also need to be careful not to use an impure tongue to describe someone who has chosen an impure sexual practice. Easiest way to deal with where we stand on this is to go back to the beginning of the verse and focus on what God has called us to do.

What did God plan and design us to do? Did He call us to be promiscuous? Did He call us to lascivious behavior? Did He call us to be unfaithful? Did He call us to be foul-mouthed or to destroy people's characters? God called us to be pure and to love people and hate sin. Not easy to do, but it is what He called us to do. We would definitely be more effective if we would deal with our own impurity more often than trying to sort out other's impurity. Hope this devotional has caused you to think or rethink these matters. Listen to God. What does He say? Then respond accordingly.

In His Service,
Pastor Fred

Tweet