Purity?

"God has called us to be holy, not to live impure lives. Anyone who refuses to live by these rules is not disobeying human rules but is rejecting God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you."
~ 1 Thessalonians 4:7-8

I will touch on this again in more depth time and time again. It is so important and I honestly struggle with it daily. It's good for you to know I struggle too.

Living a pure life is impossible without help from the Father. There is far too much corruption in the world today for me to expect anyone...even my precious sons...to live in such a way that you are not surrounded by carnal temptations. We work, play, buy and sell, in circumstances that are tainted by the sin of others. We carry our own weaknesses and lusts with us everywhere we go. I could paint an accurate picture of how easily temptations can lure us in, but I think you both know what the situation is...if you are too young as I write this, you will be made aware of your own depravity soon. I hate it. I wish I could turn it off or shut it up.

Holiness is not possible on our own. I can try hard...but I can not try hard enough to succeed every time. If even one failure is enough to ruin me, where do I turn?

If these questions sound a bit cliche' it's because we are all so familiar with the struggle that it has become too obvious. It blends in with the scenery of life now. Why aren't more Believers living lives that are set apart (holy)? I think it has more to do with Trust than we think about.

Webster's dictionary defines "Trust" as, "assured reliance on the character, ability strength or truth of someone or something." Saying we trust God is certainly NOT the same as living a life that demonstrates trust in God.

What aspects of your life would be different if after you read God's Word and then TRUSTED Him with EVERY decision you made after that?

When I sin, it is because...
1) I do not really think what I am doing is deserving of death.
2) Perhaps I think my sin is deserving of some punishment...but I have time to confess it and repent.
3) In that moment, it makes sense to do it my way...if only just this once.
4) I am curious. God drew a line, but what happens if I cross it?
5) I have done this thing before, I know there is some pleasure to be had, and I think this time I might be able to handle the repercussions differently. (In other words, I'm practicing to get better at being bad.)
6) I am angry that I can not have something that otherwise seems to be good for me.
7) I am only thinking about myself...or, if I do think about others, I put myself first.
8) I am being lazy or negligent. Perhaps I am simply ignorant of the law?
9) I am trying to satisfy a healthy desire by illegitimate means.
10) I want God's job...at least in my own little sphere.

Refusing to obey God's instructions for living is REBELLION, and that doesn't make a lot of sense considering who HE is and knowing who I am. This trick is to be honest with our selves.
When I am tempted to sin...I am actually considering my own ability to discern as equal with God's.

I can't speak for anyone else, but I am painfully aware of how often I fail to live a pure life from moment to moment (especially in my thoughts) and I have NO business questioning a God with a perfect track record after thousands of years worth of scrutiny. When I recognize that His Word is Truth and I have only my own battered credentials to stand on...it is easier to believe what He says will work.

So, why do so many people fail to trust Him? Sin.
What is God's answer to that natural bend toward self-destruction? Jesus Christ.

What do we do with this information?