1 Timothy 5:22.."Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be a partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself pure." These are words to live by. To better understand what Paul is telling Timothy, you must first read Chapter 3:2-13, giving special attention to verse 10. In the book of 1 Timothy, Paul gave Timothy, an evangelist, the charge of raising up leaders in the church in Ephesus and delegating duties. The qualifications for positions of leadership are found in verses 2-13. This transfer of authority was done by the laying on of hands. Paul is cautioning Timothy not to be rash in these ordinations because some men's sins are not immediately evident but become so later. Verse 10 states that these men should first be proven and then allowed to occupy these offices of leadership. In ordaining certain men, Timothy was attaching himself, unknowingly, to their sin. Timothy's focus on his responsibilities may have been impaired by a preoccupation with his often infirmities of verse 22.
You ask, "But, how does this relate to me?" Simply put, the whole Bible teaches the concept of sowing and reaping. Throughout our lives we are constantly attaching ourselves to either people or things. As we do so, we reap back either in a positive or negative way. If we attach ourselves to people or things that glorify God, we reap positively. If we attach ourselves to people or things that do not glorify God, well……you tell me? Are you endangering your eternal well-being by people, things, or practices you have attached yourself to……or become involved with……or in?
Three areas of our Christian walk:
Justification
Consecration
Sanctification
If you have received Jesus Christ as your own personal Savior and made Him Lord over your life, then you have been made justified by what Christ Jesus did on the cross. You have also been consecrated, or set apart, for God's purposes.
Sanctification is what The Purity Ring is all about. This is the area wherein you will now spend the rest of your life….being sanctified, or purified. You have heard the expression, "You can take the boy out of the country, but you can't take the country out of the boy." Well, consecration is God's taking the boy out of the country. Sanctification is God's taking the country out of the boy. This purification will take the rest of our lives. Upon becoming a Christian, we often find ourselves starting to avoid particular habits and practices that were once very commonplace in our lives. Can you think of some? Other habits, practices, ways of thinking, etc., take longer to eliminate. Some will take a lifetime! However, we have God's word that He will complete the good work He has started in us. Take this time to think about your own habits and practices. What habits and practices do you need to eliminate? Remember...abstinence doesn't produce purity, but purification will produce abstinence! Ask God to purify your heart in all areas so that your life will glorify Him.
The Purity Ring serves as a constant reminder of the sanctification God is doing in our lives. It also reminds us that we are not yet perfect, but with a lifetime of purification, we will be! Until then, however, remember that Christ Jesus not only paid for our sins at the cross, but also our sinful nature -- that is, all those things deep within us that we are capable of committing! Isn't that good news? This is what is so frustrating to satan. As satan....or our own sinful nature....leads us into sin, we cannot be separated from God if we remember to stand in faith on 1 John 1:9, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." (NIV) Remember now...this is not a license to sin! So…get out of your comfort zone and allow God to use YOU to bring the good news of Jesus Christ to others! Don't focus on your weaknesses, temptations or shortcomings, but focus on God's forgiving nature, the strength of the Holy Spirit, and show them that what Jesus has done for YOU He has done for everyone.
