Devotional – The Importance of Mental, Emotional and Physical Purity

“[How] shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed according to thy word” Psalm 119:9

The question is revealing. Notice the Psalmist doesn’t say, “Why should a young man cleanse his way?” Neither does he ask, “Should a young man cleanse his way?”

He has already moved past the point that so many young people struggle with, which is to question authority and wonder why mental, emotional, and physical purity is so important. 

Mental Purity 
This has to do with the things we engage our thoughts in. 
These start from the things we feed into our souls. What is the nature of the books, magazines, journals and other printed materials we read? What are the programs and secular films/dramas that we watch on TV? Which programs do we allow into our ears and minds on the Radio and other electronic media? What is the nature of the spiritual source of the music that we listen to and “enjoy”? What kind of information do we carelessly put out and absorb with others as we interact with them?

The Psalmist had said in Psalm 101
“I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes:
I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me.
 A froward heart shall depart from me: I will not know a wicked person.
 Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour, him will I cut off:
him that hath an high look and a proud heart will not I suffer.
 Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me:
he that walketh in a perfect way, he shall serve me.
 He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house:
he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight”

I want to believe that king David was speaking here out bitter and painful past experience. 
He must have looked back and seen how LACK of deliberate DISCERNMENT and conscious DISCRIMINATION of 
(a) which persons he related with on close and regular basis, 
(b) what things were regularly discussed, 
(c) which things he regularly read and watched with his eyes, 
had all progressively defiled his heart and mind and turned him into a poor moral state!

He subsequently made these very hard and strong resolutions: Zero tolerance to IMPURITY of all forms! This is true REPENTANCE!

When we hit this very blessed state, we can only go forward with our Master and not backward, amen. The only way forward is ” by taking heed according to thy word” ! 

David knew that he was sinful and foolish before a holy God. He was not questioning the need to cleanse his way, but is now pursuing the best means to accomplish this.

And how is it to be done? 
By taking heed to — by internalizing and personalizing — the Word of God. On one hand this may be disappointing, if you hoped for a more entertaining, less demanding solution. 

Nothing less than an UNBLINKING GAZE into the mirror of God’s Word will show you the genuine flaws in our character and mindset.

[ from my dear brother Alex, this morning]
Hebrews 12:2 says “looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith”

The word ‘looking’ in our study scripture is derived from the greek ‘aphorao’ and that word means 

‘to turn the eyes away from other things and fix them on something else’. 

This world is ladened with distractions, all of which in one way or the other is designed to keep each and everyone of us occupied with other things and miss out on that which brings true fulfilment to the believer in this life; and true fulfilment is finding and completing your own God given assignment on the earth!

How can one keep focused despite these distractions? It’s simple, by ‘looking away from the distractions and staring at the love of God that took away our sins and is now seated at the right hand of the Father’.

With each passing day, learn how to ‘look away and keep your GAZE on Jesus’.  
Where is Jesus today that you may keep your GAZE on Him?  

The Lord can now be found in the pages of the written Word of God.

Look away from the DSTV, look away from the Nollywood, look away from the Cinema, look away from ……. and keep your gaze on your Bible so you too can be on your way to living in God’s dream! 

On the other hand, it is greatly encouraging. The solution we seek for is readily available! We  do not have to climb to the top of a mountain in Tibet, or have a certain social or religious pedigree, or attain some academic status in order to know and understand how to purify our lives and please God.

Emotional Purity
This has to with what things we allow our heart to crave for, our desires to long for and happiness to be attached to! 
The commandment of The Lord is clear and simple.
“And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:”
Loving The Lord is opening our hearts only to Him and His heart desires for us – His Word and Instructions.
Mental Impurity is the first stage of depravity that naturally lead to Emotional Impurity.
Philippians 4:8
“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things”

Physical Purity – FAR (Flee…Abstain…Reckon)
1Corinthians 6: 18
“FLEE fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price:therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s”
2Timothy 2: 22
“FLEE also youthful lusts:but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart”
1Thessalonians 4: 3,4
“For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should ABSTAIN from fornication: That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God”
1Thessalonians 5: 22, 23
“ABSTAIN from all appearance of evil.
 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ”
Romans 6: 12
“Likewise RECKON ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof”

In conclusion, The solution to our present challenge is simple, but it is not easy. 
Take heed to and study hard God’s Word, the Bible. 
Make God’s wisdom your own, and live by it.

Malachi 3: 6 & 7b
“For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed”
 … “Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the Lord of hosts”

We can still amend and cleanse our ways. There is hope, Praise God!

Our Goal is God!

The Liteman T
Toks Oshokoya
Johannesburg, SA