God's Mercy Provides Purity

David was a remarkable man of God. He constantly trusted in God for his victories, and He did his best to stick to the commands of God. David trusted in God to overcome lions, bears, and Goliath the giant. David trusted that God would protect him, even in the face of adversity due to Saul and his own son Absalom. But, as righteous as David was, he still fell into sin by committing adultery.

We all sin. But, as believers, we have two choices after sinning: remain in sin, or repent. God punished David for his sin, but David did not blame God for the consequences of his adulterous relationship with Bathsheba. When confronted by the prophet Nathan, David realized he needed to repent, and so cried out to God for mercy (Ps. 51). Joel Virgo writes, "We need to see it [sin] from God's vantage point, and God says: TREASON... David appeals to God's covenant mercy (steadfast love)-which speaks of his dependable nature."

Purity is a struggle for many. Although it may take different forms for men and women, it is a battle that both genders face. Of course, most Christian do not want to struggle with the issue of purity. When we give our lives to Christ, we would like to think that our old addictions simply vanish. What Christian wants to admit he or she struggles with pornography, anorexia, or depression? Yet when we fail, we can rely on God's mercy to carry us through the pain of our impurity.

At the same time, God provides, a clear antidote to our struggles. Psalm 119:9-11 shows us how to avoid impurity altogether: by meditating on the words of God.

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God's Mercy Restrains SIn

God is good to us. In the end, God will allow us to live as we choose. Revelation 22:11 states, "Let the one who does wrong continue to do wrong; let the vile person continue to be vile; let the one who does right continue to do right; and let the holy person continue to be holy."

We are God's sheep; God knows those who are His, and He looks after us. He knows the conflict of our hearts and how our every inclination is toward evil. So God works with us and He molds us. They Holy Spirit convicts us in our sin, and He speaks to us in our temptation. Sin is always our choice. Satan cannot force us to sin; God will not make us. It is always our decision.

As Thomas Watson writes, "God shows mercy in restraining us from sin. Lust within- are worse than lions without! The greatest sign of God's anger, is to give men up to their sins ... While the ungodly sin themselves to hell, God has laid the bridle of restraining grace upon us!"

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