Here are a handful of practical Bible verses for us Christians to remember to help us live with God’s values in view. This post is about a deeper commitment to Christ. I’ve also added a selection of songs which reflect the heart’s cry of Christians saying, “Give me Jesus – a deeper relationship with my Saviour!”
The Christians to whom the book of Romans was originally written were already committed to Christ for salvation and serving God. And yet the Apostle Paul begged them to be committed/yielded/surrendered to Christ even more, for example in Romans 12:1-2, 11, 13:12, 14.
And that should be the life of a growing Christian. To be like Jesus. (Extra: An interesting story is told at another post at this link (hopefully linked shortly) that explains the work of God to gradually transform us into being like Christ.)
“…consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord…I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings, becoming like Him…”
Philippians 3:8, 10 (NIV’84)
(This post is based on a simple 3-point sermon (“Keep Yourselves…”) that I heard when I was a teen at a Bible camp years ago but I can’t remember the speaker.)
Keep Yourselves Pure
Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, nor take part in the sins of others; keep yourself pure.
1 Timothy 5:22 ESV
The word translated “pure” (Strong’s reference #Greek 53) in this verse means clean, modest, innocent. It has the idea of not being contaminated or influenced by evil. It’s the same word used in Phil. 4:8 (“whatever is pure…think about such things”) and James 3:17 (“the wisdom that is from above is first pure…”). See also 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1.
“I will set before my eyes no vile thing. The deeds of faithless men I hate; they will not cling to me. My eyes will be on the faithful in the land, that they may dwell with me; he whose walk is blameless will minister to me. No one who practices deceit will dwell in my house; no one who speaks falsely will stand in my presence.” Psalm 101:3, 6-7 (NIV’84)
(Posting verse 3 next to a device or screen can be a helpful reminder to make good choices for what we watch or listen to for entertainment or direction, etc..)
These verses remind us that the influences which “dwell” with us (e.g. are comfortable being in our lives) should be good, trustworthy, supportive of truth. They should not be deceitful or otherwise evil/vile.
A similar verse is found in Psalm 119:37 (ESV) –
“Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in Your ways.“
Pure: Cleansed and Re-filled
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
1 John 1:9
Cleansed and then re-filled with the power of the Holy Spirit to continue working within us – for we need His empowerment to help us make godly choices! And we need His power to shine through us that others might see God living in and with us (Romans 15:13, 1 Corinthians 2:4-5, 4:7, Ephesians 3:16).
Search Me O God (Cleanse Me) – an instrumental music video; lyrics source link
1 Search me, O God, and know my heart today;
Try me, O Savior, know my thoughts, I pray.
See if there be some wicked way in me;
Cleanse me from ev’ry sin and set me free.
2 I praise thee, Lord, for cleansing me from sin;
Fulfill thy Word, and make me pure within.
Fill me with fire where once I burned with shame;
Grant my desire to magnify thy name.
It’s My Desire to Live for Him – a link to a music video of a song composed by J. Larson.
Keep yourselves pure.
Keep Yourselves from Idols
Little children, keep yourselves from idols.
1 John 5:21 ESV
This is a less-typical way to end a letter but that is the last verse of 1 John. (“Little children” is a term of endearment speaking to Christians.) The instruction in this short verse is important and is similar to verses in 1 Corinthians 10.
But first, why would Christians be told to stay away from idolatry? Christians are the people who have repented of their sin and put their faith in Christ alone for salvation!
Some people give spiritual value/worth/worship to things – nature, manmade items, even idolizing people, etc.- which of course, are not God (e.g. Acts 14:15, Deut. 6:13-14, Romans 1:25, Revelation 4:11, 2 Corinthians 11:3-4, 13-15; Galatians 1:6-12). And we know that Christians are known for singing and praying to God rather than to things.
Yet it is these people – Christians – who are given this warning a number of times in the Bible, and there are other verses that tell us Christians to not be deceived. That indicates strongly that it’s quite possible for Christians to slide down into this kind of error.
Jesus hates idolatry in His Church and calls His people to repent of it (e.g. Rev. 2:6, 14-15, 20, 3:19).
In my workshop on the subject of “art”, I gave this definition:
“An idol is an object or image to which a spiritual, god-like supernatural power is attributed to it such as protection, reverence, method/charm of getting a prayer request answered, etc.. It can appear as an
“ugly” object but not necessarily so. It could instead have a measure of artistic beauty and/or skill in its design.”
What might Christians be relying on instead of God – that is a form of idolatry and is a sneaky and sometimes subtle downturn?
We need to go only to God (this includes what He already teaches us in His Word for how to live) – and not to “idols” for wisdom or power or counsel, etc.. (e.g. Nehemiah 9:6, 1 Peter 5:7, Matthew 6:33, James 4:7, Proverbs 3:5-6, Hebrews 4:16).
The young Christians in Thessalonica were commended because they had “turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God” (1 Thes. 1:9).
I Have Decided to Follow Jesus (with I Am Resolved) – a medley but it is a nice arrangement. The lyrics for the newer song that is put with the traditional one can be found here. (The history behind “I Have Decided to Follow Jesus” can be found here.)
1 Corinthians 10 (ESV) –
“Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did. Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.”
verses 6-7)
In the same chapter, it is explained that giving attention to idolatry or pagan practices is like giving attention to demonic powers and that Christians are not to partner with that spirit-world.
“What do I imply then? That food offered to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons.”
verses 19-21
A common verse of promise, quoted in its context of the surrounding verses –
“Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.”
verses 12-14
Keep yourselves from idols.
Keep Yourselves in the Love of God
But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh. Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.
Jude 1:20-25 ESV
What “keeping ourselves in the love of God” doesn’t mean:
- It doesn’t mean that we’re to somehow ‘keep ourselves saved’. Our security comes because God holds us (John 10:27-29, Romans 8:35, 38-39, etc.).
- It doesn’t mean that we’re to live in a good way to earn God’s love or make ourselves lovable to Him. He’s loved us already when we were unsaved sinners, neither righteous or good (Romans 5:8, John 3:16, Ephesians 2:4). And He loves us additionally because we are now “in Christ” (e.g. Colossians 1:13, 1 John 3:1, Revelation 1:5-6, John 17:26).
How can we “keep ourselves in the love of God”?
- We’re to live in His love – to be a reflection of His love to others because of His love to us. (1 John 4:19, John 13:35, 1 Corinthians 13)
- We’re to keep ourselves remembering the benefits of God’s love because if we don’t, we’ll become quite discouraged.
“Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good…” Psalm 103:2-5 ESV
- We’re to make lives prioritize loving God and His Word. (Mark 12:30-31, Psalm 18:1, 119:127, 165, Revelation 2:1-7). Give me Jesus.
“…for You have magnified above all things Your Name and Your Word.“
Psalm 138:2b (NIV’84)
(A magnifier – it makes things look bigger, gives something greater attention, etc.)
Keep yourselves in the love of God.
Give Me Jesus
One of the wall hangings near my computer area reads, “In the morning when I rise, give me Jesus” which are old song lyrics of “Give Me Jesus”.
I personally like the version of it that includes bits about Ruth Bell Graham’s legacy in it better than the plain version of Fernando Ortega’s arrangement but here are both links to hear him sing this song:
Plain version of Give Me Jesus
Pictures of a Christian example with Give Me Jesus
