top of page
Search

Keeping Clean


How does a person keep clean in this dirty world? The psalmist asks this question in verse 9: "How can a young man cleanse his way?" The answer: "By taking heed according to Your word." Of course this doesn't apply only to a young man. The same is true for a young woman, a child or an older person. We are living in a dirty world, and because of the pollution around us, we have to walk in the Word of God. The psalmist gives us several instructions to follow to keep us spiritually clean.


First, heed the Word. We first have to read and study the Word so we know it. And if we know it, we should obey it.


Second, hide the Word. "Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You" (v. 11). G. Campbell Morgan used to say of this verse, "It tells us about the best book--'Thy Word'--in the best place--'my heart'--for the best purpose--'that I might not sin' against God." Are you obeying the Word of God? Are you treasuring it in your heart?


Third, herald the Word by sharing it with others. "With my lips I have declared all the judgments of Your mouth" (v. 13). If we have Scripture in our hearts, it has to come out through our lips, because "out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks" (Matt. 12:34).


Finally, honor the Word. "I will meditate on Your precepts, and contemplate Your ways" (v. 15). In other words, "I will honor God's Word. I will respect what He wants me to do. My Father is telling me what to do, and I am going to obey Him."


* * *


God's Word has a cleansing effect. But you must get into the Word before it can become effective in your life. Obey God's Word, and He will keep you clean in this dirty world.


Baker Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group (bakerpublishinggroup.com). Used by permission. All rights to this material are reserved. Material is not to be reproduced, scanned, copied, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission from Baker Publishing Group.

249 views

Recent Posts

See All

Bloom Where You're Planted

Read Psalm 80:8-13 One of the greatest tragedies in life is wasted opportunity--not making the most of what God has given us. We came...

A Night Season

Read Psalm 74:12-23 For God is my King from of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth" (v. 12). Asaph wrote those words after...

Fresh and Flourishing

Read Psalm 92:7-15 Someone has said that there are three stages in life: childhood, adolescence and "My, you're looking good." We can't...

Comments


bottom of page