Read Psalm 119:9-16.
The price of spiritual growth and enjoying a personal relationship with the God
of heaven is purity.
Beth is the second of 22 stanzas in this acrostic psalm. The subject
continues to be the Word of God but the focus in these verses teaches us the
basis of avoiding personal sin.
An unwillingness to give up sin keeps people from coming to Jesus for His
forgiveness and cleansing. For the believer, sin breaks our fellowship
with Him and stunts spiritual growth. Christianity has too many spiritual
pygmies.
Many have memorized verses 9 and 11, but the secret to maintaining one's purity
is found in verse 10.
1. The desire of purity.
"I seek you." One who desires to live as they wish with eyes on
what pleases them will soon find themselves enslaved in sin. It is only
when our supreme desire is to seek out what God wants that we find true
freedom. Purity begins with wanting to be right with the LORD more than
personal wants.
2. The demand of purity.
"With my whole heart." A half-hearted commitment satisfies no
one. Either we are living for God or we are not. Purity demands
that we forsake everything that displeases the LORD.
3. The determination of purity.
"Let me not wander from your commandments." First, we must know
what God has commanded in His Word. Next, we must make a commitment to
obey it. Notice that the psalmist uses the personal reference of "I"
8 times in these 8 verses and, also, the action verbs attached to them. Then,
when confronted with temptation, we have predetermined to go God's way instead
of our own.
"No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is
faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the
temptation he will also provide the way of escape that you may be able to
endure it." (1 Corinthians 10:13)
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