We will not achieve perfection in this life. Neither will the people around us.

However, our faith in Jesus does not motivate us to accept sin. We do not want evil to influence us. We want to serve God is a way that is pleasing to him and according to his will.

Below is Psalm 101. It is a section of God’s Word that makes you think about what and who you allow to influence you. David wrote this Psalm and expressed strong desire to avoid sinful influences. Our faith in Jesus motivates us to seek purity as well. Of course, our confidence must never be in our own efforts; Jesus saved us by his death on the cross. Read this Psalm and pray for God to fill your heart with the same desire that David had to avoid sin.

I will sing of your love and justice;
to you, O Lord, I will sing praise.
I will be careful to lead a blameless life—
when will you come to me?
I will walk in my house
with blameless heart.
I will set before my eyes no vile thing.

The deeds of faithless men I hate;
they will not cling to me.
Men of perverse heart shall be far from me;
I will have nothing to do with evil.
Whoever slanders his neighbor in secret,
him will I put to silence;
whoever has haughty eyes and a proud heart,
him will I not endure.
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.
Every morning I will put to silence
all the wicked in the land;
I will cut off every evildoer
from the city of the Lord.  (Psalm 101:1-8 NIV)

Pastor Tim Wempner

Pastor Joshua Zarling