Purity

Nehemiah 12: 3 When the people heard the law, they separated from Israel all those of foreign descent.

In this scripture the people of Israel were trying to repair their mistakes and purify their culture from foreign influence.

The things that we choose to coexist with have a great influence on our being. When God led His chosen people into the promised land He commanded them not to intermingle with the people who already inhabited the land. They repeatedly ignored this command and over the years paid a great price for the corroding influence these people had on their society and religious practices. While we no longer separate ourselves from groups and races of people, as children of God we are still called to remain pure. That's what this is really about, purity. There are many things that are present in the world around us that we are called to have nothing to do with. Greed, vengeance, sexual immorality, hatred and drunkenness are a few of the attitudes and actions that we are called to avoid. God has known and told us from the beginning that His love will not coexist with these things. Either they go or He goes. We must decide which we will nourish within ourselves. No doubt some of these things are very attractive and our choices often are very difficult ones. I guess in the end though the rules are the same for everyone; we make our own decisions and we reap the rewards or consequences of our choices. What will it be?

Father God, teach me to remember that no matter how great the temptation, it is never worth it to take a step away from You. Amen.