“…God’s truth stands firm like a foundation stone with this inscription: “The LORD knows those WHO ARE HIS,” and “All who belong to the LORD must TURN AWAY FROM EVIL.” In a wealthy home some utensils are made of gold and silver, and some are made of wood and clay. The expensive utensils are used for special occasions, and the cheap ones are for everyday use. If you keep yourself PURE, you will be a SPECIAL UTENSIL for honorable use. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for EVERY GOOD WORK. RUN from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue RIGHTEOUS living, FAITHFULNESS, LOVE, and PEACE. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with PURE HEARTS.” (2 Tim. 2:19-22 NLT) If we want God to work in and through our lives AMY, to reach people for Christ and to carry out His eternal purposes we must “keep ourselves 1pure.” The Greek word 1ekkathairō means to “cleanse, clean thoroughly, purge.” If we want to be fully useful to God we must rid our lives of any and everything that could limit our usefulness. Although Paul does not give us a complete list in this passage, he does tell Timothy to “flee from” some things and to “pursue” others. A more complete list is found in (2 Tim. 2:20-26).
The condition of our lives AMY – our speech, behavior, attitudes, motive—determines how useful we are to God, how effective we will be for His eternal purposes. As a believer, we must PURPOSEFULLY STRIVE to live a holy life, so we can be powerfully used by God. God does command us to strive for holiness. “…throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. PUT ON THE NEW SELF, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” (Eph. 4:22-24)
-Bill Stockham