March 9: The Sacrifice of Purity
♫ Music:
Day 9 - Thursday, March 9
The Sacrifice of Purity
Scripture: I John 3:3; Titus 1:15; Ephesians 5:1-3
And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure. To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled. Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people.
Poetry:
Blessed Are the Pure in Heart
by John Keble
Blest are the pure in heart,
for they shall see our God;
the secret of the Lord is theirs,
their soul is Christ's abode.
The Lord, who left the heavens
our life and peace to bring,
to dwell in lowliness with men,
their pattern and their King;
Still to the lowly soul
he doth himself impart,
and for his dwelling and his throne
chooseth the pure in heart.
Lord, we thy presence seek;
may ours this blessing be;
give us a pure and lowly heart,
a temple meet for thee.
ACCESS AND EXCESS
In our digital culture, we pretty much have access to anything on our screens. We enjoy the freedom of the internet and social media; technology provides instant entrance into the most obscure places. But just because we have access to something doesn’t mean we have to consume it.
In any given day, the average person looks at over 5,000 images, and we usually consume them – the more unfiltered the better – without a sense that our hearts are being shaped by what we consume. According to Jamie Smith in Desiring the Kingdom, this habituation of images shapes our gut-level imaginations of the world, which in many ways colors our worldviews. Have you ever wondered why we sin so much as we mature in the faith even though we know more of God and the Bible than before? Or, have you wondered why addictive patterns are so hard to break even though we know the better route? This is because we deeply (and many times, subconsciously) believe in what has been habituated in our hearts; in other words, what we regularly consume is more spiritually formative than our cognitive capacities.
Ultimately, the problem with access is that it leads to excess. With access into something, we have a sense that we are in control of some object, and it is usually too late when we realize that the object actually has control over us. We go from access to excess so quickly that it is difficult for us to know how we got there.
This is why purity is especially important in our age. Purity humbly recognizes that our freedoms can actually enslave us, and so we intentionally refrain. It truly is a sacrifice because we purposefully give up our liberties in order to more appropriately attach to what is healthier.
And that’s why I love the painting for today. J. Kirk Richards sensitively renders the crucifixion, and creates a perspective for viewers to feel like they are part of the drama. This work of art helps me more vividly understand the paradox of the sinless, pure savior taking upon himself the wickedness and pollution of my impurity and that of all humanity. When I'm able to envision Christ, especially in his helpless, sacrificial state on the cross, I cry out with the hymn writer, "make me, keep me pure within." His sacrifice is all the love I need, and I want to habituate this love in my heart.
Take some time today to reflect on the kinds of images that are shaping your soul. What kinds of images help you root yourself in the Father’s love? What images help you strive to become more like Christ? In what ways might the Holy Spirit be inviting you toward purity? How might God be welcoming you to habituate his love in your heart today?
PRAYER
Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
Amen.
(Psalm 51:10,12)
Mike Ahn
Director of Worship and Formation
Host of The Biola Hour Podcast
About the Artwork
Gray Day - Golgotha
J. Kirk Richards
Oil on canvas
About the Artist:
J. Kirk Richards (b. 1976) is a favorite among admirers of contemporary spiritual artwork. His love of the textural, the poetic, and the mysterious has translated into a unique take on traditional Judeo-Christian themes. Richards attributes much of his love for the arts to an early emphasis on musical training in his parents’ home. Turning then from music to visual arts, Kirk studied with painters Clayton Williams, Bruce Hixon Smith, Patrick Devonas, Hagen Haltern, Gary and Jennifer Barton, James Christensen, Wulf Barsch, Joe Ostraff, and others. Two years in Rome heavily influenced Richards’ palette, which often consists of subdued browns and rusts.
About the Music:
“Jesus Lover of My Soul”
Lyrics:
[Verse 1:]
Jesus, lover of my soul,
Let me to thy bosom fly,
While the nearer waters roll,
While the tempest still is high.
Hide me, oh my Savior, hide,
Till the storm of life is past,
Safe into the haven guide
Oh receive my soul at last.
[Verse 2:]
Plenteous grace with thee is found
Grace to cover all my sin;
Let the healing streams abound;
Make and keep me pure within:
Thou of life the fountain art,
Freely let me take of thee;
Spring thou up within my heart,
Rise to all eternity.
About the Composer:
Charles Wesley (1707-1788) was the founder of the Methodist movement and known for writing over 6,000 hymns. In 1738 Wesley had a powerful conversion experience and as a result felt renewed strength to spread the Gospel. It was during this period that he began to write the poetic hymns for which he would be revered. Many Wesleyan hymns focus on the personal indwelling of the Holy Spirit, the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit, the depravity of mankind, and humanity's personal accountability to God. His hymns have had a significant influence not only on Methodism, but on modern theology as a whole. “Jesus Lover of my Soul” was written in 1738, within months of Wesley’s conversion. He originally titled the poem "In Temptation." First published in 1740, it was not paired with a hymn tune nor included in a hymnal until 1797, nine years after the author's death in 1788.
About the Performer:
Ken Medema (b. 1943) is a composer–singer–songwriter who has been performing since 1973 in the United States, Canada, and Europe. Medema originally began performing as a music therapist. Some of his best known songs have been birthed through the use of live improvisation during his performances. His lyrics generally provide social commentary on themes such as justice, hunger, poverty, homelessness, and Christian charity. In 1985 Ken founded his own independent recording company (Brier Patch Music) through which he has released most of his 26 albums. The business was named after Brer Rabbit’s home from the legendary Uncle Remus stories. “Brer Rabbit lived in a place not comfortable for anyone else,” Medema says, “and we decided to follow him there.”
www.kenmedema.com
About the Poet:
John Keble (1792-1866) was an English churchman and poet, one of the leaders of the Oxford Movement which advocated for the reinstatement of older Christian traditions within the Anglican Church. In 1815, while still at Oxford he took Holy Orders and became a curate. In 1827 his book of poetry, The Christian Year appeared and met with almost unparalleled acceptance. Though at first anonymous, its authorship soon became known, with the result that Keble was appointed to the Chair of Poetry at Oxford University (1831-8141). Victorian scholar Michael Wheeler calls The Christian Year "the most popular volume of verse in the nineteenth century.” Ninety-five editions of this devotional text were printed during Keble's lifetime, and "at the end of the year following his death, the number had arisen to a hundred-and-nine.”
About the Devotional Author:
Mike Ahn received his M.Div in Spiritual Formation from Talbot School of Theology in 2009 and joined Biola Spiritual Development in 2012. Prior to working at Biola, Mike was a high school teacher/chaplain and pastor for 10 years. He and his wife, Mary, have two young children, Zoe and Zane.