Well, dear beans. We've hit the peak of the week! #humpday
Can you believe how quickly January has seemed to fly?
This past Saturday my hubby turned SEVEN & twenty! and yesterday, my baby brother turned twenty-three!?! Whaaaaa--- O__o And at church on Sunday, I had someone mention to me in regards to Gabriel, you'll blink and HE'LL BE DRIVING. DoubleWHAAAAA
But I'm not here to discuss the reality of Time. We'll save that for a rainy day. ;D
Remember that book study my mother is hosting at her home? After the fun of the holidays, we are resuming once again, and this next chapter focuses on---you guessed it!--->
Purity.
"Older women likewise are to be. . . sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored."
(Titus 2:3-5, emphasis added)
Such a difficult subject. I daresay the majority of girls cringe at this simple word. And why? Well, I believe it's because the world we live in has been so thoroughly desensitized and blinded by our present culture, that nothing we find coming before our eyes shocks or grieves us anymore because it is now considered common---normal.
Have we lost our capacity to be shocked & grieved by sin? Are we so accustomed to raunchiness, filth, and viciousness on the public airwaves that we've become immune to its deadening effect in our own hearts? Have we become desensitized to unholy language and images that pass through our eye gate and ear gate into our mind and heart? Are our heroes the kind of people David called the "saints of the land," the "excellent ones" (Ps. 16:3), or are we more taken and enamored by the worldly & the provocative, the best dress & most widely photographed?
- Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth, Adorned (p.186) -
> > > > > < < < < <
Do you believe the truth of that quote? Girls growing up in this present generation and the one coming after do not know the value & importance of this virtue. They have not been taught. And if it was in their childhood education, be that due to parents or guardians, the world has deceived them and taken it away, thereby devaluing themselves in their own eyes (and in others') to the point they simply don't care anymore.
Such a sorrowing thing, for we know better, right? They are BELOVED, no matter their past or current situations.
> > > > > < < < < <
But what does being PURE truly mean? According to Merriam-Webster, pure is simply defined as "SPOTLESS, STAINLESS."
It is a calling. We are not born pure. Due to the fall of Adam & Eve, once sin entered the world, every child thereafter was born with a natural pull toward sin. But as children of the living God, we are called to purity & holiness.
This call to purity touches every part & particle of our lives---what we do, what we say, how we think, our attitudes & motives. (see 2 Cor. 7:1)
- Adorned (p. 185) -
Where does it begin?
In the mind.
Our thoughts become ideas. Ideas, actions. And we all know where actions often lead---if not to success & strength of character, it's to consequences. Purity does not mean solely being pure in body. It extends to the mind & soul of both women AND men.
In her book Adorned, Mrs Wolgemuth shares five practices & commitments to protect against the temptation of impurity:
> Choose discretion.
> Value modesty.
As Christians, one of our chief commitments should be not only preserving our own purity, but also protecting & honoring the purity & morals of others. And when we behave or dress in a fashion that competes with a man's affections for his (present or future) wife, we work against the purity of his heart as well as our own.
- Adorned (p. 195) -
> Check your emotional attachments.
2 Corinthians 10:5
In the end, sin---alluring as it may be---never pays what it promises. Never.
- Adorned (p. 195) -
> Guard your electronic communications.
> Don't forget to lean on your trusted female relationships.
The whole point of this series is discovering the value of a Titus 2 relationship: the older woman teaching the younger, and vice versa. One day such a relationship could mean the life-changing decision of whether or not to cross a certain line---and note this statement says "trusted." That does not mean a friend known for gossip, but a trusted sister of the faith.
> > > > > < < < < <
These are marvelous guidelines!
And great daily reminders. Purity of body, soul, & mind seems so highly impossible for us fallen creatures. And yet, as Mrs Wolgemuth points out in this particular chapter of her book, where she addresses the very fact of Paul's urging to the older women to teach the younger, she states his letter suggests that purity can be LEARNED.
Apart from God we have no hope. Apart from Him, we are hopelessly stained & tainted.
But all praise & glory to Him for His unfailing mercy & unconditional grace.
He makes us PURE.
> > > > > > > > > > < < < < < < < < < <
Be ENCOURAGED!
You are so loved. I cannot stress that enough! No matter the past, no matter even the future, our God can wash away EVERY stain. In His eyes, He sees you as His Son: pure.
This is a great reminder! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteSo glad I can encourage young ladies through this little blog. *^ - ^* Thanks for reading! <3
DeleteI have so enjoyed and been so blessed by your posts over these past few months, and now I'm finally coming back to comment. (#^.^#)
ReplyDeleteThank-you for sharing these Be Encouraged posts with us! This seems like such a good, nourishing book study you all are doing. This is an important reminder that purity is a calling which we are to continually strive for in every area, from thoughts to feelings to actions. <3
I LOVE seeing your comments! (I love seeing EVERYBODY's comments) *^ - ^* I so enjoy sharing these posts! We've completed the book, Adorned, from which the majority of the content came from (although I might possibly have one more post from it---the last chapter was SO GOOD), but I'll certainly do my best on the alternating weeks to share more encouragement. :] Thank you, dear Risa! <3
Delete