Instilling Purity - Psalm 119:9

Psalm 119:9 NIV

"How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word."

If there is one single thing I can teach my kids and hope that it sticks - it will be about purity.  I will teach them about purity of the mind, of the soul, and of the body.

First is the purity of the mind and of the soul.  This all begins with a healthy understanding of who God is.  His salvation and His holiness must be desired by us.  Once saved, we pursue holiness in thought.  As it says in Philippians 4: 8 and 9:

"Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you."

Stinking thinking leads to stinking doing.  Rick Warren said it this way, "What you think affects how you feel which motivates how you act."  Let that sink in.  Our actions prove our relationship with God, and they are motivated by they way we think and by the condition of our soul.

Second is purity of body.  I will teach them that their actions can reverse their feelings and their thoughts.  Feeling angry?  Start doing good things.  It is hard to be angry at something our someone when you are practicing love. Feeling sad?  Do things that build joy. 

I will also teach them to abstain from sex until marriage and to abstain from drugs, alcohol, and smoking.  I will teach them not to pursue tattoos and piercings because they do not have to be like the crowd (no offense to those who have them, I would like to see my kids not do these things).

Taking it a step further, to maintain purity, they must learn to pursue God with all their heart, mind, soul, and strength.  It will take all their strength in a world filled with anger towards God.  Also in a world that tries to teach them to choose what truth to follow, I will teach them God's word and how to memorize it.

I am a parent who loves my kids and wants the best for them.  I want them to make the best choices for their lives, and I want those choices to be God honoring.  They will have enough to deal with in this world without having the world instruct them in the areas I as their father should be.

And I hope others come along side me and help.  Go to church tomorrow and help.  Join with others and help grow God fearing and God honoring kids who desire purity for their lives.  It takes a church family not a village.

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