Mirroring His Image Through Purity
taken from a booklet - "Young Ladies for God's Glory"
written by Mrs. Rebekah E.
You need to keep yourself pure for the one God has for you.
"Let no man despise thy youth;but be thou an example of the believers,...in purity." 1 Timothy 4:12
By yielding yourself to God, you can be the proper example of purity. Write down some guidelines for yourself so that when you are tempted to go astray, you can remind yourself of what God expects you to do.
~~ How can our countenance, our face, mirror Christ’s image?
Words —
Proverbs 31:26, “She openeth her mouth with wisdom, and in her tongue is the law of kindness.”
Proverbs 21:23, “Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue, keepeth his soul from troubles.”
Ephesians 4:29, “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your month, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.”
Eyes —
Psalm 101:3, “I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes:….”
Mouth —
I Corinthians 10:31, “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”
Ears —
Proverbs 23:12, “Apply thine heart unto instruction, and thine ears to the words of knowledge.”
Isaiah 55:3, “Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live;….”
Smell —
Romans 6:13, “Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God…”
~~ How can our character mirror God’s image?
Galatians 5:22-25, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Sprit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”
~~ How can our body mirror God’s image?
I Corinthians 6:15-20, “Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of a harlot? God forbid. What? Know ye not that he which is joined to a harlot is one body? For two, saith he, shall be one flesh. But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”
Romans 6:11-13, “Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.”
~~ Guard your gaze.
Proverbs 6:25b, “… neither let her take thee with her eyelids.” When your eyes stare at a young man, he will most likely think that you are interested in him. Then he will pursue your company. There is something about a gaze that penetrates deep down into a heart. You should reserve that for your husband only. Guard your gaze. When a fellow tries to get your attention by a whistle, calling your name, or any other way, it would be best to ignore him so that you do not give him the wrong idea.
~~ Guard the places you go.
Joseph set a good example for us in Genesis 39. Potiphar’s wife tried to tempt Joseph to lie with her. Joseph refused to listen to her or to even be with her. While Joseph was doing his business, she caught him by his garment to force him to lie with her. He did not want to sin, so he left his garment in her hand and ran from her.
Never be in a room, house, or vehicle alone with a boy or man. Don’t lie down with a boy or man, even if it is on the grass or beach. It is best not to walk at night alone. Have your mother or father with you to avoid any trouble or temptation. Never be in a dark place with a boy or man. “Men love darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil” (John 3:19b). Most parties can be a great source of temptation. The girls dress very sensually and immodestly; and the guys drink, act crazy, and do things that are wrong. The loud sensual music only encourages wrong doing. In order to avoid being tempted to sin you should not to go to these types of activities.
~~ Guard the people you are with.
“Evil [companionship] corrupts good [manners]” (I Corinthians 15:33b). Friends can encourage you to do right or wrong. Peer pressure can be very strong in persuading you to sin. You must guard who you choose as your friends. You want to make sure that you honor God in all you do.
~~ Guard your music.
Yes, even music can hinder you from being pure. The music you listen to should not be chosen because you like it, or because it makes you feel good. The choice of your music should be based on what God likes and what brings honor and glory to Him (I Corinthians 10:31). It should reflect God’s holiness. “But as He which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of [living]; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy” (I Peter 1:15-16). The music we listen to is for the Lord, “...singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;” (Ephesians 5:19b). Music that honors the Lord speaks God’s message (I Chronicles 25: 1-3).
Romans 12:1-2 reminds us that we are not to be “...conformed to this world: but… transformed by the renewing of your mind,....” We are not to let the world mold our music. The music of the world draws out fleshly desires and actions by its sensual tones and words. It encourages you to sin in your mind and with your body. As a believer you should have a new song— a different, distinct song. Why? Because “He brought me up also out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And He hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD” (Psalm 40:2-3).
~~ Guard your body.
Watch how you act and walk with your body. Don’t act or walk in a way that draws attention to yourself. We are to have a meek and quiet spirit about us (I Peter 3:4). Sit and stand like a lady. Practice good posture, don’t slouch. Keep your legs together and sit up straight. Walk gracefully, and don’t walk in such a way that draws attention to your figure. Be feminine in your actions.
I Corinthians 7:1 instructs us, “...It is good for a man not to touch a woman.” “Touch” in this verse has the idea of continual, repeated touch in order to manipulate; not just a handshake at church, although even a lingering handshake can give the wrong message. Our body is for the Lord and not for fornication (I Corinthians 6:13-20). Touching arouses passions that need to be reserved only for marriage. Proverbs 6:27-29 teach us, “Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned? Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be burned? So he that goeth in to his neighbor’s wife; whosoever toucheth her shall not be innocent.” These verses are referring to touching a married woman, but the principle applies to the unmarried. Decide now to say “no” when a boy or man tries to touch your body. Don’t let a fellow sit close to you or kiss you. You will be so glad on your wedding day that you waited.
~~ Guard your talk.
Sometime read through Proverbs and underline all the verses and words that deal with speech. It will be an eye opener to you. We are warned of flattery in Proverbs. “For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproof of instruction are the way of life: to keep thee from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman” (Proverbs 6:23-24). “The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked speaketh frowardness” (Proverbs 10:32). “Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? Let him show out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom” (James 3:13). Be careful how much you share with a fellow in your words, verbally or in passing notes. The more you share together, the more you will become attached to that person. Save those times for a lasting relationship with a young man with the approval of your parents or guardians.
~~ Guard your testimony
“Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity” (I Timothy 4:12).
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