ADVICE DAD NEVER GAVE YOU

Ralph Sorter

   Ever read a scripture that puzzles you, but when you dig in a light turns on?  That happened to me recently.

   In 1 Corinthians 7:12-14 Paul deals with difficult situations in marriages – such as a believer married to a non-believer. Paul encourages the believer to stay, “For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband.  Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.”

   Previously I understood the impact a believing spouse has upon a spouse that is not.  But the phrase, “otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.”  I wondered, how the children could be unclean by no act or fault of their own?    How could a mixed marriage of faith/no faith produce unclean children?  Have you wondered that too?

   Normally the Old Testament principle is that when something “unclean” touches something “clean,” the “clean” item or person was made “unclean.”

   Here’s where the light turned on for me.  A believing parent makes a reversal of condemnation upon the family!  Because of the dynamic power of the Holy Spirit within the believer, cleansing power flows out of their life and affects all they come in contact with!

   Like salt, the decaying effect of unclean words is replaced with words that bless.  Like light, the darkness that living in sin brings is stayed back by the example of right living before God.  And here, the faith and power of the Holy Spirit within the believing family member has a sanctifying effect upon whomever they touch.

   So what’s your application?  Every day you must circulate through your household and TOUCH each soul and reverse the unclean affect, and now make each one holy!  Without your touch…they remain unclean!

A Message from HOPE’S

Marriage & Family Ministry

ADVICE DAD NEVER GAVE YOU

Ralph Sorter

   Ever read a scripture that puzzles you, but when you dig in a light turns on?  That happened to me recently.

   In 1 Corinthians 7:12-14 Paul deals with difficult situations in marriages – such as a believer married to a non-believer. Paul encourages the believer to stay, “For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband.  Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.”

   Previously I understood the impact a believing spouse has upon a spouse that is not.  But the phrase, “otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.”  I wondered, how the children could be unclean by no act or fault of their own?    How could a mixed marriage of faith/no faith produce unclean children?  Have you wondered that too?

   Normally the Old Testament principle is that when something “unclean” touches something “clean,” the “clean” item or person was made “unclean.”

   Here’s where the light turned on for me.  A believing parent makes a reversal of condemnation upon the family!  Because of the dynamic power of the Holy Spirit within the believer, cleansing power flows out of their life and affects all they come in contact with!

   Like salt, the decaying effect of unclean words is replaced with words that bless.  Like light, the darkness that living in sin brings is stayed back by the example of right living before God.  And here, the faith and power of the Holy Spirit within the believing family member has a sanctifying effect upon whomever they touch.

   So what’s your application?  Every day you must circulate through your household and TOUCH each soul and reverse the unclean affect, and now make each one holy!  Without your touch…they remain unclean!

A Message from HOPE’S

Marriage & Family Ministry

ADVICE DAD NEVER GAVE YOU

Ralph Sorter

   Ever read a scripture that puzzles you, but when you dig in a light turns on?  That happened to me recently.

   In 1 Corinthians 7:12-14 Paul deals with difficult situations in marriages – such as a believer married to a non-believer. Paul encourages the believer to stay, “For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband.  Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.”

   Previously I understood the impact a believing spouse has upon a spouse that is not.  But the phrase, “otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.”  I wondered, how the children could be unclean by no act or fault of their own?    How could a mixed marriage of faith/no faith produce unclean children?  Have you wondered that too?

   Normally the Old Testament principle is that when something “unclean” touches something “clean,” the “clean” item or person was made “unclean.”

   Here’s where the light turned on for me.  A believing parent makes a reversal of condemnation upon the family!  Because of the dynamic power of the Holy Spirit within the believer, cleansing power flows out of their life and affects all they come in contact with!

   Like salt, the decaying effect of unclean words is replaced with words that bless.  Like light, the darkness that living in sin brings is stayed back by the example of right living before God.  And here, the faith and power of the Holy Spirit within the believing family member has a sanctifying effect upon whomever they touch.

   So what’s your application?  Every day you must circulate through your household and TOUCH each soul and reverse the unclean affect, and now make each one holy!  Without your touch…they remain unclean!

A Message from HOPE’S

Marriage & Family Ministry