1 John 3:2-3 - Motivation for purity

Scripture:

1 John 3:2-3
2 Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.
3 And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
NASU


Thoughts:

As we look for the second coming of Christ (verse 2), this should motivate us to want to live pure lives now, just like Him. 

The difficulty for us today, is that the second coming can seem so far away, as nearly 2000 years have passed since Christ's ascension into heaven.  We live in a subconscious disbelief that it will happen during our lifetime. 

But this is not truly wise, though our pragmatism would tell us so.  Jesus could return at any moment.  Who among us wants Him to return at a moment that we are even harboring a sinful attitude, much less involved in outward sin?


Prayer:

Lord, may I desire purity in all of my life, as You do.  Give me a passion to be like You.  Rather than pondering how much I need to be like Christ, may I focus on how much I can be like Christ by the power of Your Spirit within me.  Make me like You, I pray!

Amen

Scripture quotations taken from the NASB.