By Botsio
God’s instructions on how to think so far, has taken us through three “whatsoevers” – whatsoever things are true, honest, and just think on these things. We now add whatsoever things are pure.
It is always good to explore what the Bible means when it uses certain words. Take “pure” for instance, what does it mean, we need to know, so we can apply it to our lives. In Greek the word hagnos used for “pure” translates to “exciting reverence, venerable, sacred, pure…, clean”
That first meaning grabbed my attention – how do we fit together “exciting” (causing great enthusiasm and eagerness) and “reverence” (deep respect for someone or something).
The Hagnos
There is a feeling of eagerness and enthusiasm when we find ourselves in the presence of a true man of God or anyone who immediately commands respect because of what they represent, a deep connection with the Lord. This is how pure can be viewed through the lens of “exciting reverence.” Imagine seeing Jesus, and the way you would feel just from discerning Who He is. To go deeper, the root word from which hagnos (pure) originated is hagios which means “most holy thing, saint” (BLB).
Focus on Purity
To think of the character traits of humility, sacredness, untaintedness, “presence” which emanates from persons you encounter. It could also be the sacredness of a place, an atmosphere of a place of worship or a pristine place in nature, untouched by human civilization. Let us think of our hearts being like that, our minds being cleansed of negative or degrading thoughts but instead, filled with uplifting, holy thoughts. Thinking thoughts of good towards the people we encounter is to focus on purity.
It is in our hearts that we think and Jesus had something to say about a heart that is pure. “Blessed (happy, enviably fortunate, and spiritually prosperous–possessing the happiness produced by the experience of God’s favor and especially conditioned by the revelation of His grace, regardless of their outward conditions) are the pure in heart, for they shall see God! [Matt. 5: 8 – AMP).
Katharnos
The Greek word katharos representing “pure” in Matthew 5 above, brings more clarity on how to think with pure thoughts. The Greek translates to “clean, pure, free from corrupt desire, from sin and guilt; free from every admixture of what is false, sincere, genuine; blameless, innocent; unstained with the guilt of anything” (BLB).
We are therefore being admonished by the Apostle Paul to think about things that are genuine, innocent, blameless, sincere, guilt free and Jesus is reminding us that this thinking takes place in the heart, the center of our being.
The Pure in Heart
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Those who are pure in heart, Jesus said we shall see God which translates to “beholding, to look at” (BLB), but it also means to be looked at. So as we see God, He sees us right back. This is fostered by our thinking pure thoughts. When we fill our hearts with things that are genuine, clean, and sincere, God notices us, He sees us. Things are already tipped in our direction when even the Creator of the universe inclines His gaze towards us.
This is how God wants us to think and change how we relate to Him. Whatsoever things are true, honest, just and pure…”…think on and weigh and take account of these things [fix your minds on them]…” (Phil. 4: 8k – AMP).
Selah!
Next week the “whatsoever” we will be examining is lovely, I mean it is the word “lovely.” In the meantime let us think on the other four things for this week and see the manifestation of God’s goodness.
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