How Can A Young Person Stay Pure? By Obeying Your Word
Don't Give A Foot Hold To The Devil
PSALM 119:9-11
How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word. With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments!
”Psalms 119:9-10 NKJV
https://bible.com/bible/114/psa.119.9-10.NKJ
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The world today is like a sea of sexual images and sinful attractions. Everywhere we look we find temptations to fill our minds with thoughts of immoral sexual fantasies and relationships that God would not approve of.
So much so, that sexual immorality has become so normal it is no longer considered sin and is seen as acceptable “normal behaviour” and has become a part of every day life.
Sexual immorality has even become a part of the curriculum taught in our schools to our children.
Truly I tell you, we are drowning in a sea of sexual immorality, images and sinful attractions.
The writer asked a question that troubles us all: How do we stay pure in this contaminating environment?
The truth is, we cannot do this in our own strength; we must have counsel and strength more powerful than the tempting influences around us.
Only by reading God's Word regularly, doing what it says, and by praying and walking by the leading of the holy Spirit can we find the strength and wisdom needed to keep us pure. The truth is, we cannot remain pure in our own strength, therefore, it is Christ in me that does it (GALATIANS 2:20-21).
Hiding (keeping) God's Word deep in our hearts is a deterrent to sin. This should inspire us to memorise Scripture, but memorising alone will not keep us from sin; we must put into practice everything we learn, putting God's Word to work in every part of our lives, making it a vital guide for everything we do.
But what does it say regarding a man or indeed a woman who is struggling with lust?
Paul said, “But I say to the unmarried and to the widows: It is good for them if they remain even as I am; but if they cannot exercise self-control, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.”
I Corinthians 7:8-9 NKJV
Many Christian couples in this world today see sexual relationships or living with one another outside of the covenant of marriage as “normal and righteous” They say, “it’s acceptable now, everyone is doing it.”
My beloved, it might be acceptable by world standards, but it’s not acceptable in God’s kingdom, and my advice to you is, repent, turn toward God and get married ASAP.
Jesus paid the debt of the sin of the world with His own blood (COLOSSIANS 1:14), and therefore their is no condemnation for those in Christ (ROMANS 8:1), but He paid a high price for our freedoms to serve Him, not to continue in sin.
The indwelling holy Spirit guarantees your eternal future (EPHESIANS 1:13-14; 2 CORINTHIANS 1:22), but all sin gives a foothold to the devil and a license to kill, steal, and destroy (JOHN 10:10).
Therefore my beloved, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.“
I Peter 5:8-11 NKJV
It might seem like there’s no negative consequence to sin at the time, but all our actions, both good and evil, will bring consequences in time.
Sexual temptation is very powerful and drags many into sin. For that reason, Paul instructed the married, “Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to her husband. The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. And likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. But I say this as a concession, not as a commandment.”
I Corinthians 7:3-6 NKJV
My brethren, do not deprive your spouse except “if you both agree” for a time of fasting for the Lord. Then break the fast, just as you eat when you break the time of fasting, come together as instructed, so that the time of fasting has a start and finish, and Satan will have no place to get a foot in the door and temp either you or your spouse into immoral thoughts or behaviours.
You may not be hungry, but your spouse might be; he or she has no other righteous way to satisfy his or her hunger.
For this reason, Jesus, who has all authority in heaven and on earth (MATHEW 28:18), has given your spouse authority over your body (1 CORINTHIANS 7:4).
Some may complain, seeing satisfying their spouse as a “job”, but not if they understand God’s selfless love and the principle that it is better to give than to receive; it is then when sexual relations become pure and intimate.
Either way, sexual relations is a part of the covenant one makes with God and to their spouse when one marries.
My brethren, “Blessed are the undefiled in the way, Who walk in the law of the Lord! Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, Who seek Him with the whole heart! They also do no iniquity; They walk in His ways.”
Psalms 119:1-3 NKJV
How then my beloved can a young person stay pure? By obeying the Word.
All glory to God forever and ever! Amen.
