3:99 – Washing Away Filth

#faithbites #faithjourney #holyweek filth

I’m lying on my bed with the windows open listening to the wind and the incoming storm. The smell is wonderful. I know soon the rain will come and wash away the dirt and filth on the land. It also brings much needed water and nutrients for the soil, the animals, and eventually us. We need the storm to make the land clean.

Tomorrow is Maundy Thursday, which is the day of the last supper. Jesus knew the storm of Good Friday was coming. He blessed his disciples, gave them food, and prepared them. The storm that was his crucification would wash not the filth of the earth but the filth on our souls.

Are you ready to be washed clean by the coming storm?

Scripture

• Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. – Ezekiel 36:25
• If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. – 1 John 1:9
• how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? – Hebrews 9:14

Reflection

We are to be born of the water and the spirit. Our bodies washed clean by the water, our souls washed clean by the spirit. We are to be free of our idols, our sin, and conscience of dead works. Jesus offers all of this and more.

Just like a storm can cause distruction in it’s wake, so can the path of following Christ. It’s not an easy road to follow. Jesus died. Many of the disciples were persecuted and killed. Many Christians died and continue to die for following Christ. It is not easy at all. But the cleansing of our filth, the promise of eternal salvation, and knowing that we will be with Jesus forever, is worth any storm damage.

Are you ready to survive the storm and follow Jesus?

Challenge

Listen to the wind and the storm. Think about what storms Jesus went though and why he did it. Give thanks for his sacrifice to rid us of filth.

Prayer

Father God, thank you for giving your Son to die for our sins. You showed us the storms he went through and he told us of the storms we will face. Give us strength to weather the storms and never turn away from the one who will cleanse us of our filth. In your name, Amen.