Our Purity Helps Others See Jesus Clearly

Claire Black: This is True Girl, a podcast for girls and their moms. I’m Claire Black. Together we’ll explore God’s truth for us, one drive at a time.

Song:

I am a true girl.
Oh, oh, oh, oh.
I am, I am, I am a true girl!

Here’s something to think about: if Jesus washes away your sin, does it really matter how you live?

Dannah Gresh and Suzy Weibel talked a little bit about that on the last episode, but there’s still more to explore.

They said that purity is about having a clean heart that loves what is right and good. And it isn’t something we get by living perfect lives; it’s God who creates purity in us.

Our key verse for this season is Psalm 51:10: “Create in me a clean heart, O God.” That means we don’t fix our hearts when they have imperfections in them—God does. He purifies us through the perfection and purity of Jesus.

But how does that affect how you live? Keep listening to find out. 

Dannah Gresh and Suzy Weibel are heading somewhere a little wild—Shark Ray Alley! Let’s head back to Belize for an unforgettable object lesson that shows us that “Purity Helps Others See Jesus Clearly.”

Dannah Gresh: Okay, Suzy . . . when are you going to jump in?

You’re not going to believe this! I found a stingray that keeps coming back to me—I think she’s decided we’re friends.

I’m naming her Flapjack . . . get it?

Suzy Weibel: Because she’s flat and slaps around? (Giggle)

Of course you named the wild sea creature!

I mean . . . I’m an athlete, Dannah. I can do hard things. I just didn’t picture myself swimming with . . . stingrays.

Dannah: She’s so gentle! Look—she’s back!

Suzy: I see her. I see her . . . and about two dozen other stingrays. Note the sharp pointy thing on each of them? Thus the name “sting” ray!

Dannah: Well, swimming with stingrays is generally safe if you respect their space and follow the advice our boat captain told us about. They’re actually really non-aggressive. They only sting in self-defense.

Suzy: Well, I can see you’ve survived the fever! So . . . 

Okay, that is actually amazing. Let me get my fins on.

I just want to note—I have not seen a shark yet. Just the rays. I’m all in now as long as we keep it that way.

Dannah: (laughing) Noted!

Suzy: Okay, I’m coming in.

(Splash)

Ahh! Cold! I’m good—I’m good.

Wait, Dannah! Well, lookie here. There’s one by me. I think he’s picking me!

Dannah: Yes, that one’s yours!

Suzy: Okay, he’s kind of . . . cute!

Alright, fine . . . if we’re doing this, I’m naming him Ray. Short. Simple. We’re not overthinking it.

Dannah: Perfect.

Suzy: He’s smaller than yours.

Dannah: The boys usually are!

(Boat in distance revving engine)

Suzy: What? Wait! Ray, where are you going?

Dannah: There they all go! They know what the sound of that boat means: food! 

That’s how Shark Ray Alley came to be. The fishermen have been coming here for generations to clean their fish after a long day. The stingrays and sharks figured that out and come for the . . . shall we say, “left overs”?

Suzy: Smart! That’s amazing.

Dannah: Ah, before we climb back in our boat, let’s just soak a while. I love how the water sways you back and forth like a hammock!

Suzy: That is nice!

Okay. I have to say it again—the water here is just unreal. It’s so clear. Like, you can see everything.

Dannah: I know. It’s amazing. And honestly, Suzy, it makes me think about that conversation we had yesterday about purity.

Suzy: Yeah.

Dannah: Because look at this—these sharks and rays know where to go.

Suzy: They really do. They just keep coming right here.

Dannah: No one’s out here putting up a billboard under the water to advertise: free lunch. No one’s training them.

They’ve learned that this is where something good is. They’re attracted here by the scent of something that, to them anyway, is delicious!

Suzy: Uh huh.

Dannah: And that’s kind of what our lives are supposed to be like.

Suzy: Like fish guts?

Dannah: No!

Our lives are supposed to draw people. The Bible teaches that older women should live in a way that honors God—and help younger women live with wisdom and purity. (Among other things.)

Suzy: Titus 2! Yes, and it tells us why in verse 10: “Then they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive in every way.”

Dannah: Exactly.

When our lives are changed by Jesus—when there’s purity in how we think, how we act, how we treat people—it’s like we’re showing the world, “This is where something good is.”

Suzy: So people are drawn to Jesus when we live differently.

Dannah: Yes. Not because we’re perfect, but because He’s changed us.

Suzy: That’s really different than just talking about Jesus.

Dannah: It is. It’s living in a way that makes people say, “Wait, why is your life different?”

Suzy: I’ll never forget in grad school, I was studying acting. Part of my grade was to audition for one-act plays being directed by our directing students. But one of the plays was really not pure, and I knew I couldn’t be in that one. 

When I told my program director I couldn’t do it, he was shocked. He only thought of it as acting. But I told him, “No, if my vocal chords have to form those words and my body has to perform those actions, it’s no longer just acting.” 

He said he was a follower of Jesus, and later he told me I had really challenged his way of thinking about how theater shows sin and its consequences, and his responsibility as an actor.

Dannah: Amazing! Yes, that’s what I’m talking about. We can point to Jesus in those moments. Only He is truly pure. But the fruit of His work in our lives is that we want our words, our actions, even our thoughts to be pure because He is pure. 

And honestly, Suzy, that’s my story. I call it my freedom story! I couldn’t make myself pure. I tried. I felt stuck, ashamed, alone.

But then I went to Jesus in prayer. I said, “Okay, here’s the deal. I cannot do this without you, but I want to be pure. Help me. I need you.” 

That’s when everything started to shift—the way I talked. The things I thought about. The stuff I did. Not overnight. But for real it changed me.

Suzy: You became free.

Dannah: I did.

And that’s what we have to offer the world—not perfection, but a real story that says, “Jesus changes people.”

Suzy: So the way we live, it matters.

Dannah: It really does. Because people are watching. And just like these sharks and rays, they’re looking for where something good is.

Suzy: I just have to say it. Comparing Jesus being attractive to sharks and rays circling for snacks? That might be one of the weirdest analogies you’ve ever made, Dannah.

Dannah: (Laughing) Okay, fair. It’s a little unusual.

Suzy: A little??
Um, Dannah . . .

Dannah: Yeah?

Suzy:  Those . . . those are fins.

Dannah: Yep. Here they come!

Suzy: Those are definitely fins!!

Dannah: They are!

Suzy: Why are there fins?

Dannah: Because this is the best part.

 Suzy: Best part?

(SPLASH)

Suzy: AHH—what was that?!

Dannah: Shark bait.

Suzy: The captain of our boat just threw shark bait in the water? Wait? What in of a fever of rays are they doing?

Dannah: Gnawing. They’re not gnawing on us!

Suzy: But they are gnawing.

Where are their teeth?! I don’t see teeth!!

Dannah: They’re nurse sharks.

Suzy: Nurse sharks?

Dannah: Yes! Totally safe. They don’t have the kind of teeth you’re thinking of. They’re kind of the vacuum cleaners of the ocean. They just kind of suck up all the edible debris and dirt around them, keeping the water clean and pure. But . . . totally harmless.

Suzy: Okay that information should have been on the website! 

Claire: What did you learn today? (Besides the fact that nurse sharks don’t have huge teeth, of course.) 

I hope Dannah and Suzy have helped you understand that you don’t pursue purity just to follow rules, but because it makes Jesus look beautiful. When your life reflects Him—when He’s changing your heart—it shows the world how good He really is. That’s why how you live matters. It’s not about being perfect. It’s about letting Jesus make you new and living in a way that points others to Him.

Dannah has written a book to help teen girls think wisely about purity. It’s called, And the Bride Wore White. You might be a little young for it yet, but you’ll be there before you know it! This book will help teen girls understand God’s design for their hearts, minds, and bodies. 

And in fact, this episode was adapted from that book. Your mom can get a copy at MyTrueGirl.com. And if you’re not ready for that book yet, we have other resources that might be just right for you! Check out the True Girl Subscription Box. It’s full of fun things, but more than that, it’ll encourage you to get into your Bible. So find out more at MyTrueGirl.com.

Okay, next time we’re going even deeper. Literally. Dannah and Suzy are heading out to the Belize Barrier Reef—one of the largest reefs in the world. They want to see the wonders of the ocean, but there’s a storm brewing! Will it stop the fun?

Song:

Oh, oh, oh, oh.
I am a true girl.
Oh, oh, oh, oh.
I am, I am, I am a true girl!

The True Girl podcast is a production of Revive Our Hearts, calling women to freedom, fullness, and fruitfulness in Christ.

*Offers available only during the broadcast of the podcast season.