“Keep yourself pure!” the Bible says. “Keep yourself pure!” Is that even possible?” Someone may argue. Honestly, keeping yourself pure is not easy for a teenager and even for adults alike.
The Bible says:
21 If you keep yourself pure, you will be a special utensil for honorable use. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work. -2Timothy 2:21 NLT
In the verse we just read, the Bible shows us the benefits of keeping ourselves pure and how effective and valuable we will become once we live pure lifestyles.
Before we begin, let’s pray. May the Holy Spirit explain to us plainly the importance of keeping ourselves pure. Amen!
Let’s pray:
“LORD, God of our Salvation, we invite You, Father. Spirit of the Living God, may You pour Your supernatural wisdom and understanding on us. May every person reading this post leave this place with a renewed mindset and a new heart willing to obey God’s Word. In Jesus’ mighty name, I pray. Amen!”
Now, let’s take a closer look at what 2 Timothy 2:21 means by instructing us to keep ourselves pure. Later, we will examine different practical ways to apply today’s topic in our own lives.
But first, let us define what the Bible means when it says: “Keep yourself pure.”
Definition
12 You say, "I am allowed to do anything"—but not everything is good for you. And even though "I am allowed to do anything," I must not become a slave to anything. - 1 Corinthians 6:12 NLT
Often, we choose to engage in destructive behaviors by claiming that we are allowed to try out anything.
Then, how can you discern what you need to watch out for to keep yourself pure?
Let’s learn how the Bible defines keeping yourself pure as we continue.
In a few words, keeping yourself pure means examining your life, discerning/determining, and getting rid of anything that does not align with God’s Word.
To emphasize this definition, let’s dig deeper into what – 1 Corinthians 6:12 taught us earlier.
I am allowed to do anything
We read earlier this passage from 1 Corinthians:
12 You say, "I am allowed to do anything"—but not everything is good for you. And even though "I am allowed to do anything," I must not become a slave to anything.
- 1 Corinthians 6:12 NLT
* Moment of self-reflection:
Please take a moment to consider the different things you are currently allowed to do based on your culture.
Let me give you some examples to consider:
- In some cultures, they allow underage drinking. Where a 14-year-old can buy alcohol at a local liquor store and drink publicly with no consequences; this is very common in some African countries.
- A girl dating at 13 years old, right after she starts High school.
- A 16-year-old boy attended his classmate’s birthday party at a house party but then discovered his classmates were using drugs/substance abuse. And then they asked him to join.
- A teenage couple, both 15 years old, engage in sexual relationships, and it’s allowed by the law of their country.
- A girl moves in with her boyfriend the second she turns 18, and the law and her parents approve of her choice.
Although we are allowed to do certain things culturally or legally, not everything is good for us.
The next point below will emphasize more about how:
Not everything is good for you
16 Don't you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living. -Romans 6:16 NLT
Before we explore the meaning of this verse, let’s examine the Biblical definition of the word “slave.”
According to Google AI Overview, this is what “slave” means:
The word “slave” in the Bible is usually translated as “servant” or “bondservant”. The Hebrew word for “slave” is eved, which comes from the verb ʿbd, meaning “to work”.
In a few words, being someone’s servant means following their instructions to the letter. Unfortunately, most Christians struggle with this when it comes to keeping themselves pure.
Some people may not be aware that whatever you choose to submit to/obey, you automatically become their servant (worker).
So, how do these two statements correlate with each other?
- “Not everything is good for you!”
- “Don’t you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey?”
The second statement explains that if you become a servant or worker of something or someone, you automatically obey them.
In other words, if you choose to become a servant or worker of something terrible for you, you choose to obey it.
Then why would anyone want to be a servant of someone or something toxic to them? Peer pressure is one of the most common reasons people choose bad habits over good morals.
Peer Pressure
Nowadays, we live in a generation where people’s opinions and culture weigh more than God’s Word.
Then, how can you keep yourself pure by avoiding peer pressure? The best way to avoid trouble is by studying the Word of God in advance.
Knowing God’s Word and commands regarding a challenging situation can prevent you from falling into traps.
You may also have another issue regarding God’s Word. Some people find it hard to follow God’s rules because they view them as high standards or difficult teachings.
So, is it easy to avoid peer pressure or follow God’s high standards? Not at all. It’s difficult, but you can obey Him only with the Holy Spirit’s help.
Below is an example of how Jesus’ disciples complained about His teachings.
43 But Jesus replied, "Stop complaining about what I said."
-John 6:43 NLT
60 Many of his disciples said, "This is very hard to understand. How can anyone accept it?" 61 Jesus was aware that his disciples were complaining, so he said to them, "Does this offend you? -John 6:60-61 NLT
As you slowly learn Jesus’ teachings, let the Holy Spirit give you wisdom and understanding.
The Holy Spirit will help you unlearn anything ungodly. And then He will replace it with God’s Word. Amen!
Conclusion
From this day forward, commit never to complain or argue against what the Bible teaches. Instead, ask God to give you a teachable heart so that you can learn how to keep yourself pure.
Jesus, the Word of God (in other words, He is the Bible), should be your primary source of knowledge.
Let Him be Your wisdom and the only person to put first in all of your beliefs.
I pray that as you learn God’s ways, open your heart to Him and let Him work on you. Trust Him wholeheartedly, and He will never fail you. In Jesus’ mighty name, I pray. Amen!
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