Innocently Yours-inspiration for the title

At first glance, the title "Innocently Yours" might be considered confusing or weird, as if I randomly drew the name out of a hat. However, this process required a couple days (perhaps weeks) of careful contemplation. It originated from my favorite song by Stellar Kart, titled "Innocent." The chorus goes like this:

"I wanna be innocent
Yours wholeheartedly
Innocent
Every part of me
Take me back so I can see
The way that love was meant to be"

Here is a youtube link if you would like to listen to it (I highly recommend it!) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vg-lc3LImE

The main message is, as Christians, we need to be different than the world, which is certainly not innocent. This song really speaks to me because I know I am different than the world, which is empty of morals or a purpose. My purpose in life is to live for Jesus and as a result, I want to be innocent, like He is. John 1:7 says this:

"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin."

This verse clearly states that through the blood of Jesus, who died for our sins, we become innocent and are purified "from all sin." Another interesting point to note is the use of the word "light." Searching for verses to reinforce my reason for my title, I used the indispensable Bible Gateway website where you can look up keywords in the Bible to find similar verses (I don't know what I would do without it!). I decided to search for verses with these words: light, pure, and innocent. Why did I choose light? To me, light signifies Jesus, who was the only truly innocent man-yet was put to death by sinful mankind. He calls us to be light like him and only through Him can we be innocent. Matthew 5:14-16 says:

"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."

Here, Jesus is referring to Christians as lights in the world. This is a perfect analogy. Typically, light can mean the forces of "good" whereas darkness is "bad" or evil. This common example is seen throughout movies and books. Star Wars is a classic example of this "good vs. evil." The same thing applies to the real good vs. evil situation, which is God vs. Satan. Satan constantly tries to temp people with the appealing desires of the world and essentially put our light out. The well-known children's song "This Little Light of Mine" illustrates this when it says, "Don't let Satan blow it out, I'm gonna let it shine." In fact, the song comes straight from this verse. As simple as the song is, it has a powerful message. In this world of darkness, I want to obey God's command and be a light-so that other might see His greatness (which mere words cannot describe) and glory. This is easier said than done. While I am still talking about his verse, I just want to point out something important. Notice where it says, "they may see your good deeds." One of the most common misconceptions about Christianity is the belief that one can get to heaven by "good deeds." This is most definitely not true, considering the many passages throughout the scriptures that prove otherwise. The only way to get to heaven is through Jesus and God's grace. We are saved once we put our trust in Him. Psalm 51:7 says:

"Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow."

I love it when the Bible uses creative analogies and similes to articulate a certain point or describe the marvels of nature. This verse required me to look up the meaning of hyssop, which I assumed was some type of plant. It turns out it is an herb that was used to clean (like medicine). It is used throughout the Bible and in biblical times, was common. Here is a picture:

It is a beautiful plant that resembles some sort of wild flower. This verse asks God to "cleanse with hyssop" and then be "whiter than snow." This is a perfect simile to explain innocence. Only through Jesus can we become whiter than snow and attain "innocence" despite our sinful nature. Psalm 19:13 is similar:

"Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then will I be blameless, innocent of great transgression."

There is is: straight from the Bible, the word "innocent." I simply love this word. Think about it. What first comes to mind? For me, either a picture of a baby or a cute animal forms in my mind-completely innocent. The definition of innocent according to dictionary.com is " free from moral wrong; without sin; pure: innocent children." Imagine if the world was completely innocent. Life would be void of sin and all of the horrors that come with it. This is what God originally planned for us when He created Earth and the Garden of Eden. He created a perfect world, but humans spoiled the plan with a three letter word called sin. Such a small word produces so much impact! Now we live in a corrupt world with the "pains" and trials of life. Luckily, God's perfect (truly perfect!) plan did not stop there. He knew we would sin so He created a "substitute" for our sin. A person who would fill the gap that sin leaves-us separated from God. Jesus, the only innocent one, died for our sins so that we might experience life to the fullest-here on the Earth and in Heaven. I thank Him for that everyday and will forever praise His name-for He alone is worthy of it. Romans 16:19 says:

"Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I am full of joy over you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil."

This verse may appear strange. Why, might you ask, would someone want to be naive? That is basically what this is saying: "innocent about what is evil" is another phrase for our word "naive." Dictionary.com defines naive as "having or showing a lack of experience, judgment, or information; credulous: She's so naive she believes everything she reads. He has a very naive attitude toward politics." Typically, the word is used negatively, describing someone as gullible (believing anything). As it turns out, innocent, naive, and gullible are all synonyms. They are used for different purposes but essentially have the same meaning. The definition says "a lack of experience" which can also translate into a lack of experience for the wrong types of things, which one would not want to experience. Therefore, being innocent about what is evil is a good thing. One should be wise about what is good, then. As Philippians 4:8 puts it:

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."

Honestly, I have been labeled "naive" by nearly everyone who has met me. Another term that people use is "sheltered." It's kind of a joke among friends that I "live in a hole." I am proud that I am unaware of many of the corrupt, unwholesome things of this world. I am sure Jesus wants me to be like this, and be "innocent" for Him. To conclude, Matthew 10:16 says:

"I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves."

Although I want to be innocent, I am like a sheep among wolves. I need to be shrewd like a snake, but still maintain my innocence like a dove.

~To my dear Father, I want to be innocent like a dove-innocently yours. :)

-Pictures found on Google
1. Light Picture
2. Hyssop Picture (Wikipedia)
3. Dove Picture