Words of the Pure
The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD,
But the words of the pure are pleasant.
Proverbs 15:26
Some translations say “pure words” are pleasant. Regardless of your view on that, the question that remains is how do we become pure and speak pure words? In Philippians 4:8, Paul urges us to meditate (NKJV), dwell (NASB), take into account and fix our eyes on (Amp.) these things. Clearly that’s a good start.
How do attain purity?
First Peter gives us some keys. “Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever” (1 Peter 1:22,23). Malachi foretold that God would purify his people as a refiner does silver and gold (Malachi 3:3).
Sometimes this refining process isn’t easy to handle. Asaph wrote Psalm 79 while Israel was undergoing such a refining process. Attaining purity isn’t always going to be easy, but it will always be beneficial. Going back to the Proverb, I know that I don’t want God to detest what I say, but I want Him to be pleased by me! When I finally meet Him, I want to hear Him say “well done.” Do I slip? Of course I do! Am I tempted? Absolutely. But I look to the words James wrote in James 1:12, “Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.” James also gives us some insight a few verses later as to how to avoid temptation. “But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.” (James 1:14-15)
Jesus told His disciples the same thing the night before His death. “Watch and pray,” He said, “lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41). Romans 8:1-4 underscores this entire idea. “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ our Lord, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.” In verse 9, he continues by clarifying that we are in the Spirit and not the flesh if the Spirit of the Lord dwells within us. We live in the flesh but we are free from the flesh. We have been set from the law of sin and death through the law of the Spirit of life. As a result of living in the flesh and in a fallen world, we are still tempted when we lose our focus (Hebrews 12:3).
How do we please God?
By being pure. To be pure, we must be refined. In that refining process, we may lose focus and be tempted, but God is faithful and will never leave us or forsake us. (Joshua 1:5) To avoid temptation, we need to crawl back into His love and continue seeking Him more and more. By doing that, we begin to walk in the Spirit, which leads to a changed life and the purification and righteousness that is found only in our Lord Jesus Christ. (Hebrews 9:22; Romans 5:17)
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