"So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart." - 2 Timothy 2:22
God calls us to flee some things and pursue others. “Flee youthful passions,” He tells us.
What passions are characteristic of youth? Obviously sexual desire is at its peak in those years. But there are other passions that are most powerful in our youth: pride, competitiveness, the drive to win and the urge to accomplish great things.
These are actually not bad things at all. These passions are in us by God’s design, and by His design they are most powerfully active in our youth. Under the Lordship of Christ, and used according to His Word, they will result in wonderful things: things like our getting married and having families, building homes and careers and doing great and good things in this world.
But when our passions are not under the control of the Holy Spirit and submitted to the guidance of His Word, they will get us into trouble. If we let our passions run our lives unchecked, they will destroy us.
I love riding horses, but once in a while you get on a really powerful horse that takes off with you on board and you realize that you are no longer in control. All you can do is hang on and wait for that animal to get tired. Our passions can work the same way. If you can’t control the horse, don’t get on it.
“Pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace,” He says, “with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.”
Purity of heart is the opposite of impurity of heart. Surround yourself with friends with pure hearts; it helps, in your pursuit of what’s good, to be in the company of others in the same pursuit.
Lord Jesus, too often I cling to the passions that would control my life and take me places I don’t want to go. Keep my heart set on You: pleasing You, trusting in You, and living in the peace that knowing You brings to my home, my church and my life. Amen.
Pastor Dan Giles