The past several days have been a frenzy of cleaning, as we got ready for our final housing inspection. In an effort to be thorough I combined cleansing products in unique blend which would have undoubtedly landed me in hot water with Homeland Security, had we been back in the states. Luckily Jack Bower did not make an appearance and we passed with flying colors.
All this cleaning made me think about how I often try to get closer to God through cleaning. If I scrub real hard at the mistakes I have made, I will some how become more holy. I think that may stem in part from the saying, "Cleanliness is next to Godliness". Let me point out that this phrase does not appear anywhere in the Bible. According to Phrase Finder, it is first attribute to Francis Bacon in its English form, said to have been derived from an ancient Hebrew saying.
The thing is, no amount of Mr. Clean can wipe the stain of those mistakes from my past. Luckily, Jesus did that job for me already, so I can put away the Swifer Wet Jet and focus on what is important, which is to continue to build a relationship with him that goes beyond an outward cleanliness. I will continue to try and clean up the messes in my life, but the pressure of having every thing spic and span for the final inspection is over with, JC has that covered.
2 comments:
If on your travels from here to there you have time for some reading check out Brian Mclarens Everything Must Change.
That's the crux of grace: realizing that I *can't* clean up any of my messes and have to rely on God to do it all for me, which is what He's really longing to do anyway! I can just come to him dirty, ask for help and come away refreshed. It's a beautiful thing.
xo
Lin
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