June 12, 2023: How Can We Stay Pure?

"How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word."  (Psalm 119:9, ESV)

It is important to God that we keep our ways pure. It is also interesting how much Scripture tells young people and children about keeping their ways pure. Proverbs, a book rich in wisdom in maintaining the ways of the Lord, also seems to be written to young people. Don't think for a moment that this excludes older folk. After all, older folk seem to be the ones in Scripture that 'mess up.' The point is for all of us to keep our ways pure. What ways? All of our ways.

The big question is: How do we keep our ways pure? We keep our ways pure by guarding them. The word guard means to ‘exercise great care’. This word seems to be used most in the old testament regarding keeping the covenant. Guarding also means 'to take care' as one would tend a garden. The Passion Translations says it well: "Only by living in the word of God and walking in its truth." (Psalm 119:9, TPT)

For a person to stay pure requires that we keep the Word of God ever before them, meditating on it day and night. Our hearts are like a garden where the Word of God is planted. We must learn to keep and tend our garden well. Those who do will exhibit a fruitful walk with God in all of his way