What actions can we take to avoid being "corrupt" as in Psalm 14:3? Reality Check from Psalm 14:3 “All have turned away, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.” (Psalm 14:3) Corruption is the natural human condition apart from God. The only remedy is His intervention, received and applied daily. Depend Completely on God’s Grace • “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23) • “For it is by grace you have been saved through faith… it is the gift of God.” (Ephesians 2:8) Recognize that avoiding corruption begins with salvation and continues with daily reliance on grace, not self-effort. Seek the LORD Earnestly • “The LORD looks down from heaven on the sons of men to see if any seek God.” (Psalm 14:2) • “You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:13) Set deliberate times for worship, prayer, and fellowship so that seeking God becomes a pattern, not an afterthought. Confess and Repent Promptly • “Repent therefore, and turn back, so that your sins may be wiped away.” (Acts 3:19) • “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) Regular confession keeps the heart tender and stops small compromises from hardening into corruption. Immerse Yourself in Scripture • “I have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin against You.” (Psalm 119:11) • “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:105) Read, meditate, memorize, and obey the Word so that truth continually realigns desires and decisions. Walk in the Spirit • “Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” (Galatians 5:16) Daily submission to the Spirit produces love, joy, peace, and self-control—qualities that crowd out corruption. Choose Godly Companions • “Do not be deceived: ‘Bad company corrupts good character.’” (1 Corinthians 15:33) • “Whoever walks with the wise will become wise.” (Proverbs 13:20) Cultivate friendships that encourage holiness and hold you accountable. Practice Integrity in Every Sphere • “The integrity of the upright guides them, but the perversity of the faithless destroys them.” (Proverbs 11:3) Refuse shortcuts, hidden sins, and double standards; consistency in small choices fortifies the soul against larger failures. Engage in Good Works Prepared by God • “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life.” (Ephesians 2:10) Actively serve others—generosity and service redirect the heart from self-centeredness to God-centeredness. Continually Examine Your Heart • “Search me, O God, and know my heart… lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalm 139:23-24) Invite God’s searching light, then adjust immediately when He reveals attitudes or actions that drift toward corruption. Living out these practices, by God’s power, keeps the believer moving away from the corruption described in Psalm 14:3 and toward the righteousness that honors Him. |
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