What do you think of when you hear the word contamination? Maybe food with e-coli, dirty water that much of the world lives with, or efforts to keep our rivers clean and our air clear. When it comes to our environment and our food, the word pure and clean describe our desires. What we know is that nothing good comes from contamination in our food, our air or the world around us. 

What is maybe not as obvious is the threat of contamination to our body and spirit. On a daily basis we encounter contaminants that can pollute our lives. It may be bitterness and unforgiveness that we harbor, impure thoughts that we allow to linger or even feed, areas of dishonesty or disobedience to what we know to be true and right. All of these bring pollution into our lives that may not be as obvious as pollution in our natural environment, but is no less dangerous to our life and spirit.

In his letter to the Corinthian church, Paul writes this short but powerful sentence. “Let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.” 2 Corinthians 7:1. 

The thing about pollution in the world around us is that it happens gradually. It starts with small amounts that don’t seem to matter but it can build to a place where we need to read the pollution index in large cities because those little bits of pollution have escalated into a major health threat.

This is no less true in our spiritual lives. We can overlook practices, actions and attitudes that seem trivial in the moment, but they too can build into something that corrodes our souls and erodes our spirit. So Paul tells us to purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit and to perfect holiness out of reverence for God. A spiritual pollution abatement plan where we intentionally choose to leave behind anything that pollutes our spirits. 

The goal is to perfect holiness in our lives out of reverence for God. To choose purity over pollution so that we see clearly, breath freely and live with clarity in our personal lives. In order to do that we must eliminate the impurities that we have allowed to creep into our lives.

Take some moments to think about your own life today. Can you identify areas of impurity that are polluting your spirit or have the potential to do so? In light of your relationship with God and His work in your life, what is your plan to purify yourself and choose to live in holiness? That is the challenge for us on a daily basis but it can start today. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal any contaminants in your life so that purity replaces that pollution.

Father. Thank you for this reminder that you have called us to holiness and purity. Would you reveal to my heart those areas that I need to purify in my inner life? And then, Father, give me the discipline to choose purity over sin so that I live in the freedom you created me for. Amen.