Purity Loves Company

VERSE:                                          1 Timothy 5:22

Do not lay hands on anyone hastily, nor share in other people's sins, keep yourself pure.

REFLECTION:

This verse has three important suggestions for Christians.

First, the laying on of hands is something that should not be taken lightly. You cannot go around just laying hands on people, expecting God to move in their lives. The laying on of hands needs to be done only when a person comes to you and asks for help, i.e. healing. God also wants Christians to have the right mindset when laying hands, and this is where the next two components of this verse come in.

Don't share in other people's sin. For example, compromising your faith and going to a bar with people just to make them happy is like enabling them to sin. You cannot profess to have true faith in God if you willingly participate in sinning with others. Drinking just to make them happy is wrong. Using foul language just because your friends do is wrong. Stand firm on your faith, let God guide your heart, and then you will be able to follow the third key, keeping yourself pure. The only way to do that is to flee from sin and keep your eyes on Jesus.

If you can keep yourself pure and avoid sharing in other people's sins, God will give you the ability to lay hands on someone. That is the perfect time for that person to need it, for God will have compelled them to ask.
PRAYER:

Pray for God to lead you not into temptation, so you can avoid other's sins. Pray for discernment when you are asked to lay hands on someone. Pray for a pure heart so you can commit yourself to God's work.