Purity in Action

Hello girls!

I talked last week about how beauty comes from the heart, and we need to cultivate those things in our hearts that will show true beauty. The next three parts are going to be look at three very different things that can make us beautiful: Chasteness, Discernment and Modesty. But the most beautiful thing that can be in our hearts is Jesus Christ. If He is in there and is the love of our lives, then He will change us daily to be more and more beautiful- more and more like Him. If He isn’t there, then these three attributes won’t be there either.

So what is this word, ‘Chaste’? (Yes, it is a very old word!)

Chaste:
1. not having experienced sexual intercourse; virginal
2. abstaining from unlawful or immoral sexual intercourse
3. (of conduct, speech, etc.) pure; decent; modest
4. (of style or taste) free from embellishment; simple; restrained
- (Definition from The Free Dictionary: http://www.thefreedictionary.com/chaste )

 But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine: that the older men be sober, reverent, temperate, sound in faith, in love, in patience; the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behaviour, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things— that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed. – Titus 2:1-5

The younger women are to be loving, homemakers, good, obedient, and chaste.

I wanted to look at this word, because it is not used now-a-days, but it holds a beautiful meaning. It’s a word that basically means ‘pure’. Sort of like pure, but not. The first and second meaning for the word ‘chaste’ is being a virgin or only having sex within the boundaries of marriage. It’s the third meaning I want to look at: (of conduct, speech etc.) Pure; Decent; Modest.

There is more to ‘keeping sex for marriage’ than most think. Being chaste is about letting that decision affect other areas of our lives. Can you remain a virgin, but flirt with guys? Can you remain a virgin until marriage, but in your mind obsess over your latest crush and be called pure? Being chaste means being sexually pure in everything: actions, words, conduct, thoughts, clothing, make-up and jewellery. Being pure, decent and modest in your actions means making sure you don’t lead guys in the wrong direction. It means loving guys by helping them by wearing clothing that is modest (I’ll talk more about this in another article).

Are your actions and thoughts revealing the decision you have made to remain pure? Do guys see low tops and hear flirtatious comments? Or do they see the heavenly beauty of a mind that lets herself dream, but not obsess, of a girl who is modest in her clothing, not fishing for attention, a girl who challenges and encourages those around her to live for God, not draw their thoughts in the wrong direction?

Let God into your actions. Let others see these decisions through what you do, not what you don’t do. Chaste: being sexually pure in every part of our lives. Not just the physical.

  ~ Meggie