DCLM Higher Everyday 8 September 2024 — Keep Yourself Pure
DCLM Higher Everyday 8 September 2024 Devotional by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi — Keep Yourself Pure
Topic: Keep Yourself Pure
Text: 1 Thessalonians 5:21-24
21Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
22Abstain from all appearance of evil.
23And 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.
24Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.
Key Verse: “Abstain from all appearance of evil” (1 Thessalonians 5:22).
Message
Saint Ambrose rightly observed that, “A good youth ought to have a fear of God, to be subject to his parents, to give honor to his elders, to preserve his purity; he ought not to despise humility, but should love forbearance and modesty. All these are an ornament to youthful years.” The youthful stage is characterized by a system of breaking God’s rules of purity. This systemic impurity that is typical of many youths has ruined the lives of many of them.
The strong Samson fell on Delilah’s laps, as he yielded himself to impurity. Sin is the route to the downfall of many youths and their damnation in hell fire if they fail to repent and abstain from all evils now. Abstinence implies staying away from whatsoever appears to be evil. In clear language, to abstain from appearance of evil is to abstain from fornication, pornography, lesbianism, homosexuality, lust, covetousness, lying, stealing and the likes. If you must keep your relationship with God, you must be ready to abstain from whatsoever negates purity and Godly atmosphere around you.
Quote: Keep your relationship with God
Challenge: Abstain from evil and be holy.
Prayer for today: Lord, help me to live a holy life.
1. Admit that you are a sinner. "For all [humans] have sinned, and comes short of the glory of God....[and] the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 3:23)
2. Repent now. "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out ...[for] if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness " (Acts 3:19, 1 John 1:9)
3. Believe that God loves you and Jesus died for you. "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet Sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)
4. Invite Jesus into your life through prayer of faith. Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20)
