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  • Making Purity a Priority (Psalm 119:9-16)

    If I were to ask you, what is one of the most common, yet least discussed categories of sin within the church, how would you answer? While there may be a variety of different ways to answer this question, one that would not surprise me is this: sexual sin. Whether we are talking about lust, pornography, premarital relations, or sexual unfaithfulness, sexual sin is a reality in a fallen and sinful world. Beyond just merely addressing it, we as Christians and members of the Body, must fight against sexual sin. Psalm 119:9-16 shows us how. While Psalm 119 is not limited to sexual impurity, it is crucial to speak to take this often neglected topic and ask the question, “How can a young man [or woman] keep [their] way pure?” to which the Scriptures say, “By guarding it according to your word” (v. 9). We do not need the latest technique or skill to address this problem. We need the power of God’s Word. It is in God’s Word we see lasting satisfaction can only be found in Him (Psalm 16:10-11). Yet, sexual sin makes promises it cannot keep and destroys lives in its wake. The way to combat sexual sin and pursue purity is not by seeking to avoid it but by looking to something with a greatest satisfaction. That is why the Psalmist writes, “With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments” (v. 10). We fight against sin by making purity a priority. We make purity a priority by prioritizing our relationship with God. However, what does that look like? What does it mean to prioritize our relationship with God? With any good relationship it means communicating and communing with Him. The Psalmist’s request to not wander shows dependence on God through prayer. His next words emphasize not just knowing what the Bible says but truly meditating on it. Verse 11 puts it like this, “I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” One of the sweetest memories I have from the season of dating Esther, who is now my wife, is how we would memorize Scripture together, quoting those passages and sharing how it had made an impact on our lives that week. What we saw during those times was the Lord answered the prayer requests found in verses 12-14. He taught us His statutes. His Words extended from our hearts to our mouths. We didn’t just read His Word but found the richness of delighting in it. For all who make purity a priority in their relationship with God, they will find to delight in His Word. Let’s meditate on His precepts, fix our eyes on His ways, so that we would not forget His Word.

    Reflection Questions:

    1. How are you seeking to fight against temptation and guarding your heart? How does Psalm 119 direct you?
    2. What Bible passage can you meditate on this week to store in your heart?

  • Walking in His Ways (Psalm 119:1-8)

    My toddler son loves to place his feet in my shoes and walks around saying, “Hi! I’m papa!” It is cute and sweet. Even more, it is a reminder to me of the truth we find in Psalm 119:1-8. The way is blessed for the one whose way is blameless. First off, no human can claim to have no fault. Only Jesus Christ has lived a sinless life. Yet, Jesus died the death we as sinners deserved and, as a result, we can live a blessed life above reproach by walking in the law of the Lord. It begins with repentance of sin and trust in Christ for salvation. As those saved by God, we can walk in His ways. God’s Word in Psalm 119 shows us the power and need of God’s Word in our daily life. We cannot approach this half-hearted, but we must seek Him with our “whole heart” (v. 2). Why is this the case? Because temptation will come. In order to fight it and not fall into sin, we must walk in His ways. That means being in His Word. How consistently do we need to be in the Word? Psalm 119 shows us by telling us to keep God’s precepts “diligently” (v. 4). My wife and I can tell when each other have not been in the Word, and we exhort each other in those moments, first by asking, “How has your time with the Lord been?” and then giving each other the time to spend time with the Lord. It truly is a lifetime walk. There will be moments where we fail, but that does not mean we are put to shame and dwell in our sins. Because of Christ, we find grace through the response of repentance and trust in His person and work on the cross. As we get back up after falling, we keep our eyes fixed and focused on living a life for the glory of God by following the Word of God. The result is not boasting in our faithfulness or goodness, but in praising God for His righteousness and His good rules (v. 7). After all, the only reason we are able to walk in His ways is because He is with us (v. 8). He does not forsake those who trust in Him but empowers them to follow Him. As we walk through Psalm 119, let’s listen to His Word and walk in His ways.

    Reflection Questions:

    1. Where do you need to confess that you have not walked in the way of the Lord recently?
    2. Who can you ask to hold you accountable so you may diligently be in God’s Word this week?

  • Firmes Juntos en el Evangelio (1 Pedro 5:12–14)

    El pastor Dale Eakes me dio mi primera gran oportunidad en el ministerio hace casi quince años. Desde entonces ha ido al cielo y ha recibido su recompensa celestial. Después de servir como pastor interino de jóvenes, vio mi potencial y me dio la oportunidad de servir como pastor asociado. Dale era único, un predicador entre predicadores y un pastor competente. Trabajar a su lado fue uno de los mayores honores de mi vida, y cuando murió dejó un gran vacío en mi corazón. Predicar con pasión y convicción era un sello distintivo de su ministerio. Procuré honrarlo en todo lo que decía y hacía, y estar unido a él en su visión para nuestra congregación. Por la gracia de Dios, permanecimos firmes en el verdadero evangelio y vimos muchas vidas transformadas.

    De manera similar, el apóstol Pedro exhortó a sus lectores a “permanecer firmes” en la “verdadera gracia de Dios” al final de su primera carta a los “elegidos expatriados” esparcidos por el mundo (5:12; 1:1). En su tiempo, muchos falsos evangelios se difundían como un cáncer desde los labios de falsos maestros. Poniendo las cosas en claro, la “Roca” de la iglesia fija nuestros ojos en Jesucristo. La verdadera gracia de Dios es el verdadero evangelio de Jesucristo, quien regresa para reclamar a su esposa. Pedro visualizó la hermosura de ese día y llevó a los creyentes a anhelarlo como agua helada en el calor del desierto. De su enseñanza para permanecer firmes emergen varias verdades clave. Primero, estén preparados. Debemos estar listos en todo momento para el regreso de Cristo. Segundo, permanezcan humildes. Debemos anhelar la humildad y aborrecer el veneno del orgullo. Tercero y por último, vivan juntos. Debemos vivir en unidad con otros creyentes.

    Permanecer firmes en la verdadera gracia de Dios es el latido del corazón de la primera carta de Pedro. Así como los creyentes del primer siglo que enfrentaron persecución, los creyentes de hoy deben moldear sus vidas alrededor del Maestro Alfarero. Mientras Él nos forma a la semejanza de Cristo, enfrentamos los fuegos de prueba del enemigo. Como exiliados escogidos, solo estamos de paso en este fugaz momento de la vida terrenal. Pedro tenía otros hermanos en Cristo que trabajaban junto a él en el ministerio del evangelio. Silvano, o Silas, probablemente fue el portador de la carta de Pedro a los creyentes dispersos (5:12). El apóstol escribió: “La que está en Babilonia, igualmente elegida, os envía saludos” (v. 13). Esto es una referencia a la iglesia en Roma. Babilonia era una referencia espiritual y simbólica a un poder mundial al cual Dios se oponía. Marcos, un hijo espiritual para Pedro, era Juan Marcos, quien registró el evangelio que lleva su nombre desde el corazón y la mente de Pedro (v. 13). Antes considerado inútil por el apóstol Pablo, recuperó su favor y se convirtió en una parte importante en la formación del Nuevo Testamento.

    Pedro concluye su carta con un llamado a que los creyentes se saluden unos a otros con amor y con una bendición de paz para todos “los que están en Cristo” (v. 14). Vivir juntos en humildad produce la unidad que Cristo honra. Además, la unidad se forja en los fuegos de la persecución. Los “unos a otros” del Nuevo Testamento dependen del amor sacrificial. Jesús murió para crear una unidad inquebrantable entre creyentes de todas las etnias, trasfondos, idiomas y estatus sociales. Reflejamos el corazón de Cristo cuando vivimos juntos anticipando su pronto regreso. Que seamos santos preparados, humildes y unidos, mientras permanecemos firmes en la gracia de Dios.

    Preguntas de Aplicación:

    1. ¿Cómo puedes servir mejor a tu iglesia mientras esperas con anhelo el regreso de Cristo?
    2. ¿Qué pecado en tu vida te impide estar plenamente unido con otros creyentes?