If you do these things you will never stumble

I was reading in I Timothy in the Bible where Paul told Timothy to keep yourself pure, which got me to thinking: how do you keep yourself pure or is it even possible? Well, whenever you need an answer go to God’s word because holy men of God inspired by the Holy Spirit wrote the Bible.

Paul tells us in II Timothy 3:16 “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teach us to do what is right.” (NLT)

When people speak against the Bible they do not realize how wrong they are and they are untaught in the ways of God.

When we go to I Timothy 5:22, “...nor share in other peoples sins; keep yourself pure.”

As I continued to search the Scriptures on how to keep oneself pure I see in the sixth chapter of I Timothy verse 11, part of the answer. “... pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, and gentleness.”

I believe the word “pursue” shows Christians that we have to make an effort; diligently make a decision to keep one’s self pure.

Is keeping yourself pure like filling a vessel with water? Some water splashes out and you have to keep filling it. For a Christian to keep pure is not to say they are perfect because only Jesus was perfect on this earth.

Another scripture that helps us to understand “to keep yourself pure” is the very scripture that is sometimes quoted and Christians take notice like they are going to find a key that would unlock a mystery for them. That scripture is II Peter 1:10 “...for if you do these things you will never stumble.”

Verse five shows us these things “…giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.”

Love is the very essence of the Christian walk for when we are born again the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts, but we must allow God’s love to come forward; yes, we have to make an effort.

The Bible speaks of searing one’s conscience. We must be sensitive to our conscience because the Holy Spirit dwells in our innermost being, our spirit. Christians must walk in love at all cost. We must keep a tender conscience and walk in love, or the flesh will rule us.

I like the way one Bible teacher said it — the God-kind of love won’t work if you don’t work it. Meaning you have to exercise and develop the God-kind of love that is already in your heart before you will start reaping the rewards that the love of God’s brings.

When we study the Bible, God’s holy word, we see that walking in love is profitable not only in heaven but on earth.

When Paul told Timothy to keep yourself pure he was saying continue to walk in love, continue to make Jesus foremost in your life, reject worldly influences and keep your conscious tender.

Christians are really blessed today even though false teachings abound, sexual perversion appears to be taking hold in every corner of the world, and the very core of Christianity seems to be challenged. We are still blessed; we are the blessed because of Jesus.

We are children of God, and when we stay in God’s word, meditate on the scriptures and confess the reality of the scriptures daily we can walk in victory through Christ Jesus.

Lavon Barve works with Cup of Life Ministry in Wasilla.

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