The Path to Purity

In case readers are wondering if there is any rhyme or reason to my posting later, yes, there is. Sort of. I have gone back to old Sunday School lesson quarterlies from a few years back, re reading them, and studying the lesson again. So, basically my post lately are the results and thoughts of that studying. I am back in Summer of 2009, so we have years to cover. This Quarter’s Lesson was “Joyful Christian Living in a Pagan World,” and this particular week the lesson was, “Effects of New Life in Christ.” Sometimes the post draw on the lesson itself, sometimes from the daily devotional reading with them. Anyway, that is the point!

Psalm 119:9-11

Purity is a very broad subject. When we instruct young people on purity, we most often use it in terms of sexual purity, and it certainly includes that. It is also far more far reaching than just that aspect.

Why the focus on young people? Don’t we old folks fail in these areas too? Well, of course we do! So, this lesson, while directed towards a young person in the developmental stages of life, also applies to all of us all of the time. It is just easier and longer lasting for some lessons to be taught and learned while a person is still teachable and able to learn. In other words, before we become heart hardened and stiff necked.

Now let’s get back to our question: How does a person stay on the path of purity? As God’s Word so often does, this question answers itself. We stay on the path of purity by living by and heeding God’s Word. That’s easy, right? How do we know this is enough? God Himself tells us of the sufficiency of His word in our daily lives.

Psalm 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

2 Peter 1:3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain

 unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

2 Timothy 3:16,17 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

Here is the hard part, the bad news so to speak. God’s Word will not just leap from our unused Bible into our hearts and minds. This makes me think of the computer term, Garbage in-garbage out (GIGO). Specifically that the quality of the output is measured by the quality of the input. Note the word “input.” There will always be output, the only question what input is measuring the quality of it?

So, how do we do this?

Read it. Sounds obvious, I know; nonetheless many of us don’t do this simple thing. Perhaps we glance at it during preaching or Sunday school, but some of us never read it; read, read, and read some more! Read it even if you don’t understand it. Later we will talk about understanding. The point is to put the Word in our minds. Something will be there, and God’s Word is the best choice.

Pray about it. Ask for understanding, and God won’t hold it against you!

James 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

Meditate on it. I don’t mean some mantra chanting Eastern meditation here; this simply means think about it. Ponder the things you have read, at length and deeply.

Read about it. Of course, The Bible is its own best reference tool and commentary, and one should be careful when reading what outside sources say about it. But, even if a person never reads a commentary, the extra Biblical resources which can help are amazing. Histories, dictionaries, archaeological studies, and language and word studies are all great tools for coming to understand what God is telling us through His word.

God will help us and enable us to live lives that are pure before Him. God likely will not just deliver purity to us in a sack for us to unwrap. We have to actually take what God gives us, and apply it to our hearts and to our lives.

 

Praying Through Psalms: 15 – 17

Tonight I am sharing a great post from Pauline at Uniquely Designed Individuals from her series on Praying Through the Psalms

---

Father, we bless Your Holy Name and we give You the praise and Glory for what You have, are and will continue to do for those who walk upright and blameless before You.

Lord, who is there that can abide in Your tabernacle of dwell in Your holy hill? Only those who walk uprightly, practice righteousness, speaks the truth in their heart, does not slander or gossip to assassinate another’s character with their tongue, does not disgrace or dishonor their neighbor, but honors those who reverentially fears You who is the Lord.

Father God only those who are able to say: Father, lay not this charge against them,” like Jesus, Stephen and so many others that have exemplified their lives by living a lifestyle holy and pleasing to you will be able to abide in Your Holy Presence.

Father, there is no room for extortion nor exploitation in Your Kingdom Father, so we are asking You to help us to keep our focus on You and then according fulfill Your divine will, plan and purpose for our lives we will fulfill the purpose which You have preordained and predestinated us to do before the foundations of the earth were even created.

Lord, all goodness comes from You alone, and we choose by faith to place our trust in You and You alone for our every need that we will require in these last day scenarios that are to come. Lord God, You are our portion and our inheritance in the land of the living.

Father, we thank You for being for us and since You are for us, who is there that can be against us. Our hearts are glad and our glory (hearts) rejoices and our flesh will also rest in hope, hope in knowing that it is You who holds our future which is something no one can take away from us.

Thank You for sending Jesus, Father and we will praise you forevermore, fo it is You who by Your Spirit, leads us in the path of Life through Your Son, Jesus Christ, and in Your presence there is fullness of joy and at Your right hand there are pleasures forevermore.

Father, we thank that You hear our cries and answer the prayers of those who are in desperate need of You. Lord, during the times of testing and trials which we have passed and have yet to pass, be with us as we pray as to seek Your face because You are our only source and strength in time of need.

Read the rest here