Whatsoever Things are Pure
In the list of things to think about (Phil 4:8), it’s easy to understand why we should think on whatsoever things are true. Who wants to think about lies? It’s a little less obvious why we should think on things that are honest and just. But with the fourth thing—whatsoever things are pure—we are back in “that makes perfect sense” territory. Pure is an easy word to picture. It means clean. Are all my thoughts pure or clean?
I see an obvious correlation between thinking on things that are pure and being pure. Here’s a powerful thought: Jesus came to earth, suffered injustice and death on the cross, rose again the third day and is alive in heaven right now. Why did He do all that? 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 2:14) He looked ahead at my life and yours, if you know Him as your personal savior, and He pictured people pure for Him to accomplish His good works through us. Pure vessels. That’s what He wants.
How do we be pure, besides thinking pure? Pure religion and undefiled before God… is to keep himself unspotted from the world. (James 1:27)
The motivation to be pure is the second coming of Christ. If we know for sure He’s coming back, and we are counting on it and thinking about it, we will want to live pure lives. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. (1 John 3:2-3)
So again, to be pure, we have to think pure—and the best place to find pure things to think about is the Bible.
♦The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. (Psa. 12:6)
♦The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. (Psa. 19:8b)
♦Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it. (Psa. 119:140)
That’s why it’s a great idea to get into the Bible each morning and look into the face of God and ask for something to hang on to for the day. It can be a verse of praise, a commandment to follow, a sin to avoid. With a heart eager to get something from God, it would be hard to come away from 15 minutes or a half hour in the Word without something pure to dwell on. Remember, All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. (2Tim. 3:16)
If you’re having a hard time with motivation to get into the Bible each day, pray and ask God to put a person on your heart that you could call and ask if you could be accountable to them to read your Bible each day. I did that once many years ago. As I was praying and asking God who I could be accountable to, I thought of one friend, and as I thought of her, she called me. Before I could tell her how amazing it was that she called me right at that moment, she asked me a question. She said, “Jody, can I be accountable to you to read my Bible each day?” That goes down as one of the most amazing things to ever happen to me. We started an accountability relationship. One of us called the other each morning to make sure we were out of bed and ready to start reading the Bible. It worked!
Besides thinking on the Bible, part of thinking on pure things is not letting impure things into our minds. We may have to give up some viewing material that prevents pure thoughts.
One thing is for sure, God wants pure lives and thoughts. He’s worthy of pure vessels to accomplish His will on this earth. Let’s not lose sight of that.
Jody