A Pure World

THE BLESSINGS OF PURITY ARE NUMEROUS.

Bible Reading of the Day: Read Psalm 51:10-12.

Verse of the Day: “Create in me a pure heart, 0 God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10, NIV).

Mom, Carrie, and Anthony were standing in line at the bank.

“This line is too long,” Anthony complained. He studied the other lines in the bank to see if any were shorter, but they all looked about the same length.

“1 have an idea!” Carrie announced. “Let’s play the ‘What If?’ game!”

“OK,” Mom said. “What if… everyone in the world was pure in all of his or her thoughts, words, and deeds?”

Carrie and Anthony grew suddenly quiet, forgetting the long line and concentrating on imagining a world where everyone was pure.

“I know!” Carrie said. “We could go to any movie we wanted … because they’d all be rated ‘G’!”

Mom chuckled. “Very good, Carrie,” she said.

“I know,” Anthony announced. “People wouldn’t paint all those bad words on the walls near our school.”

“Yeah,” Carrie agreed. “And I could watch any TV show I wanted, instead of having to ask you first!”

Mom nodded. “I think you’re both right,” she said. “Anything else?”

Anthony placed his finger on his chin in a thoughtful gesture. “They wouldn’t have to put those stickers on CDs!”

“That’s right,” Mom agreed. “We wouldn’t need ‘parental advisory’ stickers, would we?”

“Bobby Nelson wouldn’t always be getting in trouble for telling dirty jokes at school,” Carrie offered, frowning in obvious disapproval of Bobby’s behavior.

“Excuse me, ma’am,” a man in a police officer’s uniform said to Mom as he stepped up to her in line.

“Oh, I’m sorry,” Mom said. “Are we being too loud?”

“No,” the man said quickly, “not at all. I was just listening to your little game-I couldn’t help but overhear—and I wanted to join in.” He turned to Carrie and Anthony. “If everyone in the world was pure in thought, word, and deed, it would make my job a whole lot easier. I might even be able to retire early!”

Carrie and Anthony smiled. Mom said, “Thank you, Officer.”

He nodded, smiling. “Thank you, ma’am.”

TO DO: Play your own “What If?” game on the subject of purity. See what you can add to Carrie and Anthony’s ideas.

TO PRAY: “Lord, it’s hard for us to imagine this world being pure. Help us to remember that a pure world starts with us doing our part to stay pure. Please help us to be pure in thought, word, and deed.”