4:81 – Spring Cleaning. It’s Not Just For Your House

#faithbites #faithjourney spring

Setting

The birds are chirping. The grass is turning green. Spring time is here. Many love to open the windows, air our the winter, and clean up the junk in their house. At my house, we just started the dumping and cleaning for a house appraisal. Don’t worry, we aren’t moving, just refinancing.

It shocks me how much junk you can accumulate. I’ve taken loads to the dump and have many more to go. The worst are the kids rooms but we will get there. The hardest part of cleaning is deciding what to junk and what to keep. We often hold onto stuff that we think we may want or need but really don’t. Time to clean it away.

While we are spring cleaning our homes, maybe it’s time to clean your #faithjourney up.

Today’s Questions: Has your faith lapsed or wandered over the winter? Is your personal beliefs taking away from God’s word and message? Are you sharing the love and forgiveness of the resurrected Christ in all you say and do?

Scripture

• Psalm 51:10 – Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me.
• Proverbs 20:9 – Who can say, “I have cleansed my heart; I am pure and free from sin”?
• Matthew 23:26 – You blind Pharisee! First wash the inside of the cup and the dish, and then the outside will become clean, too.

Reflection

Most of us don’t like to clean. We love a clean house but the act of cleaning is hard. Sometimes, I’ll blare Ska music and go to town, but often I grumble through it.

When we talk about your faith, we ha w to clean the inside and the outside of the cup. Acting like a “good Christian” isn’t enough. We need to make sure we are believing in God’s word and acting as he wants us to not what society wants. We can give into pressures from others. What does this mean?

It doesn’t mean picking and choosing from the Bible. It doesn’t meant to hate those who don’t believe. If we wrap up what Jesus tells us it’s that God’s word is true, we should love God, and love our neighbors. There is no room for hate or condensation. Our love should show who we are rather than any labels we give or are given.

Spring Cleaning and the Lenten season is a great time to get ready for the resurrection of Jesus. To commit to him that we will love him, love our neighbors, and have clean hearts. Then when we fail, when we will, we need to apologize and ask for forgiveness. He promises us that he will forgive.

As we close, remember that when you are tiddying up your house for Spring, don’t forget to look at your relationship with Christ and make sure it is clean.

Prayer

Lord God, thank you for the Spring Time. We see new life in the animals and plants. You gave us new life through your Son’s death on the cross. Let us clean our cup and help us to always show love to everyone we meet. We pray for your guidance and help. In your name, Amen.