The Path of Purity

There really is a place of total and absolute FULFILLMENT, complete satisfaction. And it is to this Life that we are being called. It is The HIGHER LIFE. And it is the only life that God desired for us to ever know. Only one path will lead us to His highest and best. That path is the lifestyle of PURITY.

PURITY is not merely something to be practiced in our youth – but it is the lifestyle that we all should pursue for the rest of our lives – no matter our age. And we must, if we are to please the heart of the Father and experience all the good He has for us.

“How can a young man keep his way pure….by living according to Your Word.” Ps. 119.9 (NIV)

Take careful note of the word “keep” mentioned above. This verse goes beyond merely instructing a young person how to live pure during their growing up years. The full implication being related here is how to lay the foundation that will keep one’s life pure their whole life through – from birth until death.

That foundation for pure-living is the Word of God – Psalm 12.6 (The Message) tells us – “God’s words are pure words, pure silver words refined seven times in the fires of His Word-kiln, Pure on earth as well as in Heaven.”

And in Proverbs 30.5(AMP) we are told that “Every Word of God is tried and purified; He is a shield to those who trust and take refuge in Him.”

His Word is pure and free from all defect and error. And when we yield our full attention to that pure word and adhere diligently to its instruction and correction, our lives will become just as pure and free from defect and error as His Word.

“Dear friends, now are we children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when He appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. Everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.” – I Jn. 3.2-3 (NIV)

By placing your hope (your expectation and your focus) on the fact that your destiny is to be like Jesus, you are purifying yourself, as this verse stated – just as He is pure.

Part of our obedience to the Lord is yielding ourselves to live pure and to live Holy, just like He does. I Peter 1.15-16 (The Message) says- “As obedient children, let yourselves be pulled into a way of life shaped by God’s Life, a life energetic and blazing with Holiness. God said, “I Am Holy; you be Holy.”

In living pure lives, it is far easier to receive the things we need and desire from the Lord because there are no contaminants standing in the way. You have a pure line from you to God through which to receive. God’s Word, God’s order, God’s rules are all set up to change us and position us for His good to be manifested in our lives.

“The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul, The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes. The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. The ordinances of the Lord are sure and altogether righteous. They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb. By them your servant is warned; In keeping them there is great reward. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.” – Ps. 19.7-11,14 (NIV)

There is great reward in keeping His Word – living by what it says. Verse 11 of Ps. 119 says “I have hidden Your Word in my heart that I might not sin against You.”

It takes constantly depositing the Word of God into your heart and meditating upon it continually – this is what will keep you from sinning or walking contrary to the ways of the Lord. Consequently, this is what will keep you pure.

What we meditate on (or think about) contributes largely to what we will practice in daily life. That is why Philippians 4.8 gives us a comprehensive list of what to fix our minds on: What ever is true, noble, just, lovely, a good report, if there is any goodness or anything praise-worthy – and, yes, whatever is pure – this is what we should meditate on.

We must focus on the pure, and refuse to allow the ways of the world to contaminate the life and image of God inside us.

The Word says that the “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” – James 1.27 (NIV)

So pure and undefiled religion in God’s eyes is to reach out with His love and help to those who are utterly destitute, and to live pure, holy lives free from worldly cares and ways.

As we have already seen, God and His Word are the only means through which we can obtain true purity and holiness. His Word is what gives us the empowerment and strength to rise to His standard of Holiness – identifying to us the changes that need to be made in our lifestyle and conduct, and enabling us to make those rock-solid decisions. Sometimes it may mean redirecting your entire course. But it is worth it. It requires making yourself completely vulnerable before God – allowing your heart and life to be an open book before Him, open and receptive to all correction and change He sees fit to work in you.

Let it become the cry of your heart for Him to cleanse and refine you inside and out, removing every particle of the lower life from your heart and soul.

“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.” – Ps. 51.10,17 (NIV)

God already knows everything about you. He knows every thought in your mind and everything that you do.

But it is to each of our advantage to live open before Him and actually entreat His involvement, His help, and His correction in all we do.

“Search me thoroughly, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there is any wicked or hurtful way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” – Ps. 139.23-24(AMP)

Though we are not to live dependant on people, we are supposed to live dependant on God. From the smallest to the largest details of our lives, we should look to Him for our direction and guidance.

“Cause me to hear Your loving-kindness in the morning, for on You do I lean and in You do I trust. Cause me to know the way wherein I should walk, for I lift up my inner self to You. Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God; let Your good spirit lead me into a level country and into the land of uprightness.” –Ps. 143.8,10(AMP)

A PURE HEART cannot be obtained without pursuing to know God intimately – At the same time, intimate relationship with God cannot be obtained without a PURE HEART.

“Teach me Your way, O Lord, and I will walk in Your truth; give me an UNDIVIDED HEART, that I may fear Your name.” Psalm 86.11 (NIV)

Our hearts must be undivided, fixed solely on God. When we draw near to Him, it is a sure promise that He will draw near to us. “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” – James 4.8

It must become the greatest desire of our heart to be near to Him, and the thing for which we most desperately seek.

“One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek, inquire for, and [ insistently] require: that I may dwell in the House of the Lord [in His Presence] all the days of my life, to behold and gaze upon the beauty [the sweet attractiveness and delightful loveliness] of the Lord and to meditate, consider, and inquire in His Temple.” – Ps. 27.4 (AMP)

Our life quest should be in sitting at the feet of Jesus in all that we do. Falling in love is an act of the will. So every day and every moment we should choose to fall in love with Him afresh.

“Your love is better than life. I will bring glory to You with my lips. I will be satisfied as if I had eaten the best food there is. As I lie on my bed I remember You. I think of You all night long.” – Ps. 63.3,5-6 (New Int’l Readers Version)

In drawing near to the heart of the Father, our hearts become pure – then we are in the glorious position to KNOW HIM INTIMATELY.

“ Who shall go up to the mountain of the Lord? Or who shall stand in His Holy Place? He who has not lifted himself up to falsehood or what is false, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive blessing from the Lord and righteousness from the God of His salvation. This is the generation of those who seek Him,….who seek Your face.” – Ps.24.3-6 (AMP)

Those with pure hearts will live in the Glory of God and receive His abundant blessing. But the greatest reward for the pure in heart is that “they shall see God.” – Matthew 5.8

His heart, His thoughts, His desires, His ways, and His Love will be fully revealed to them. The pure in heart will know Him intimately.

This is the Path of Purity – and this is truly a call to the HIGHER LIFE!!

Sharah LaGail Wyatt / First Love Ministries International

P O Box 163974 Ft Worth, TX 76161/ www.ps27fr.org

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