purity Archives – Sonshine's Journal

July 13, 2024July 13, 2024

Refining

Proverbs 17 God raises up and puts down leaders and when a leader is in that position, God will refine them as if they were gold or silver through testing. The dictionary helps us understand this process: In metallurgy, the operation of refining large quantities of gold or silver by means of lead, in the vessel called a test. In this process, the extraneous matter is vitrified, scarified or destroyed, and the metal left pure.

The proverbs author uses this illustration as he writes about mankind. He notes that first of all the heart will yield to no force other than that of God. Dross in metal may be discovered and expurged by fire, but evil in the heart can be discovered and dealt with only by God and He alone places tests in our life to purge of us of sin so we may be pure for His kingdom work.

June 4, 2023June 4, 2023

Tutorial for Kids from Dad!

Prov 7-9 Kids, listen to Dad

In this day and age, it seems that all rules regarding purity are thrown out the window. So, “Father” Solomon continues to instruct his children about how to test purity through a real-life example of Madam Folly’s life and intentions vs. Lady Wisdom, whose life is pure.

Listen, my son; the wise do not take the road into the part of the city where Madam Folly hangs out. It is only the fool who does not heed the warnings and, in the end, finds the seductiveness of the harlot overpowers him. Her intentions are clear, as well as her ways, so be wise.

You must avoid the “red light” district at all costs! Lady Wisdom says to set your sets high and knowledge as the choicest gold.

These are lessons children need to hear and heed today. Parents need teaching, modeling, praying, and guiding the naïve. How are you doing, dear parent?

March 24, 2021March 24, 2021

“The Price of Sin”

Joshua 7 to 9 Jericho had seemed a sweet victory, but unbeknown to Joshua, God was angry. Fresh from a victory, the Israelites failed to consult God about taking the next city, Ai. Looking with only their human eyes, they saw Ai as a simple takeover, unlike Jericho. Secondly, Joshua foolishly failed to consult God before sending his army into battle. Ai should have been easy; instead, they faced defeat. Returning to camp and hearing the news, Joshua took time to go before God only to hear: “Get up!” Sometimes God has to do that with us as well. We can’t see our sin lying down. We must get up and face the problem.

Even though the Israelites had heard of God’s directive of the ban on all things in Jericho, Achan had casually dismissed it. How like us. We know what God desires, but we fail to think ahead to the consequences of disobedience. Achan not only lost the treasures he stole and hid, but also the blood of his family and thirty-six men were laid to his account.

Do you dismiss sin? Do you think “God will understand?” God does not overlook sin but demands purity and righteousness. We foolishly believe our sin only affects us. Be forewarned; “be sure your sin will find you out.” [Num 32:23]

if you are facing defeat, get up, seek God’s face about your situation and let Him reveal what is truly happening.

February 19, 2021February 19, 2021

Is Holiness a Puzzle? And If so, what is the missing piece?

Leviticus 21 What does it mean to be holy in an unholy world? It means that we stand apart from that which is profane. It means that we see ourselves as saved by His grace and cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ. It means we are to ask ourselves if we are partnering with those who do not believe. It means we are to come out from among them and be pure, which seems like a strict order as we move and live in a godless society, but so did Abraham, Joseph, Moses, Esther, Ruth, and Jesus.

So back to our question: what does it mean to be holy? It means that we are to remember that we are part of the priesthood of believers only because of the gift of salvation through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. It means what God gave Aaron and the High Priest as a standard applies to us in our present age. We do it when we present Christ as His ambassadors and implore them to be reconciled to God in the same way we were. It means that we mirror Christ in our walk and talk, and we can only do that when we know God. We know His character, His motives for our holiness, His standards of purity and righteousness.

God has said over and over: you should be holy because I am holy. You are my people, and thus you stand before an unholy world. The question before us is; are we a holy separated people? Only through Jesus can we have the missing puzzle pieces of purity, righteousness, and honor.