Sanctifying the Sewage!
10 And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right! 11 Does a spring of water bubble out with both fresh water and bitter water? 12 Does a fig tree produce olives, or a grapevine produce figs? No, and you can’t draw fresh water from a salty spring. James 3:10-12
If you live in America today it is highly unlikely that you will suffer the physical affects of water deprivation. True dehydration with cracked lips, mouth open trying to speak but throat choked closed on the brink of death from lack of fresh water. The reality is that fresh water is a scarce resource in many parts of our world today. The problem is not just supplying the world population with safe drinking water but providing a continual source to millions of thirsty people. A revolutionary water reclamation project commonly referred to as “Toilet to Tap”, provides fresh drinking water to millions of people worldwide from sewer water. Yuck! Safe drinking water from our tap originating from our flush? The thought causes an immediate internal repulsion. Followed quickly in thought with how do they do it and are we drinking recovered sewer water?The water purification process is not unlike the process of sanctification where we grow in God’s grace, free from the bondage of sin. It is when as Christians, we don’t just linger complacently in His grace but grow in His grace. We are led by the Holy Spirit to a life of holiness as we submit our entire being to God. This is in direct conflict with a culture placing the pursuit of our happiness over our holiness.
On our life path, our footstep should fall within the one Jesus has left for us as He leads us. God has also given us free will by which we make choices sometimes moment to moment as to what we expose our spirit to. What we see, do, hear, and speak can be an “a-salt” of our senses. Without continually renewing our mind with God’s purifying words, we quickly go from flowing spring water to the salty seas.
They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over gullible women,
who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, always
learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth.
2 Timothy 3:6-7
Could that be a woman you know, full of small groups, Bible studies, godly friends, a good person? But when temptation hit they faltered, fell, and succumbed to the enemy. The media, technology, the people around us can become an intricate sewerage system rapidly transporting polluted thinking with such velocity to our spirit, we struggle to not drown in the volume of filth.Sometimes this sewage will seep into our spirit exposing the corrupted culture we live in and how difficult it is to be culturally aloof to the sin around us. As women we can allow our emotions to override God’s truth. We might know grace and mercy but never allow it to completely saturate our spirit and when doubt comes we are spiritually squeezed out and rung dry.
3 At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one
another. 4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.
He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. Titus 3:3-7
Renewing our thoughts is part of sanctification. When we believe and trust in Jesus, our lives should be transformed, our thoughts, actions, words like water will undergo a purification process. Much like the sewage water that first undergoes a microfiltration
process, we should allow God’s word, the Bible to filter our thoughts. As the filtered water undergoes a second step of reverse osmosis, improving the drinking water by forcing it through a filter so do you when you used to think this way, you used to act this way, but now you are turning away. The final purification step is a high intensity ultraviolet light combined with hydrogen peroxide that destroys any remaining organic compounds. The end result is clear drinking water for our spirit as we yield to the Holy Spirit and live in the light of Christ. The ultimate purification of our thoughts.
8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things.
9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me-put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:8-9
Agape,
Kristianne
