I jokingly sometimes say that I spend most of my time cleaning up messes. This is partly rooted in the truth of cleaning up after kids, dogs, and work related issues on a daily basis. As we normally go about our days, we tend to leave behind some messes with dirty dishes, muddy shoes, spills, garbage, and any number of other things. Last week, my son spilled a full container of cereal not once, but unintentionally twice across the kitchen floor. Its moments like these that we can hopefully learn what to do differently next time, after cleaning up after ourselves. I find myself cleaning up messes made by others, picking up clothes and putting things back where they belong on and off throughout the day, as its part of being a parent. I would like our children to learn these things sooner, but there is also only so much you can expect from a 2 year old. Frustration may start to rear its head when you have already given 87 previous reminders about the same issue, and it doesn’t seem to be working. Maybe it will start to sink in, some day. What messes are most frustrating in your own life?
Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. James 4:8
If you take a quick look at those around you, many seem to have it all together. They keep their lawns looking good, their vehicle washed, and may seem to go about their day without many issues. Most of us try to keep up our outward appearances, but when we take a closer look at whats going on in our hearts and minds, at our relationships, at how we are managing our time and talents and finances, cracks may be more evident. Small issues and messes can start to become bigger concerns when left unchecked, especially in our closer relationships. It can be challenging to address certain issues, work on our weaknesses, and try to clean up or improve certain areas of our lives, but it can help. It seems the older we get, the more challenging it is to try to change certain habits we have ingrained in ourselves over the years. Change is not easy, but taking steps toward change is often more successful with the compassionate support of those around us.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9
Our spiritual lives might also be a bit messy at times. If we look close enough, there always seems to be room for growth. There are likely things we do that we do not want to do, and things we are not doing, we feel compelled to do. Making a change overnight is not always likely, but changing your mindset and determination to move in a different direction is often the first step in changing momentum. As we were once washed clean when we were born again, God is in the business of continuing to clean up our acts and refine us into who He wants us to be. May you be encouraged down that path!
And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. 1 Corinthians 6:11
Yours in Christ,
Clark
