Diane Virginia
I thought my home was clean until Kelsie* came.
.
.
.
As she conversed about her services, she lifted toothbrushes out of the container, setting them on a washrag. She sprayed cleaner into the cup, shoved a twisted cloth into it, and rinsed. That ornate cup was pretty on the outside, but the grey water indicated its insides needed the thorough cleansing Kelsie had given it. I was happy she’d found hidden muck. She returned the individually rinsed toothbrushes, fanning them as they hit the cup. The entire procedure took a matter of minutes, which let me know she was familiar with doing this for her clients.
I wondered if I’d ever cleaned the toothbrush cup. The answer, regrettably, was “Never.” My toothbrush—yes—but the cup? That hadn’t even crossed my mind. Kelsie had a different standard of “clean” than I was used to, and I’d hired help before. Work and family responsibilities made that an easy decision. I just wasn’t used to this level of indulgence.
Let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
2 Corinthians 7:1b NKJV
In 2 Corinthians chapters five through seven, Paul reminds us that as ambassadors of Christ, we are commissioned to share the new life we have in Him. But he doesn’t stop there—he reminds us that we are not to be yoked to worldly people. We are to be separate from them, children of light not of darkness, and filled with the Spirit of God.
Effective ministry requires us to have the Kelsie standard of clean: willing to examine ourselves, wash our minds, and renew ourselves by the Word of God and Christ’s shed blood.
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 NKJV
We give intellectual assent to being renewed in Jesus, but how can we want to confess a sin? The answer lies in knowing how much He loves us. It is so much easier to give up sin when we are sure we are loved. Our Beloved Groom stands ready to cleanse us, having paid the price for every sin—past, present, and future—thus, we can walk in holiness.
Prayer is the key that unlocks the prison doors of sin’s sway. When we enter Beloved Jesus’ love, gratitude compels us to give every ounce of our being to Him. We want no idol or sin to stand in the way of this love relationship. Our Bridegroom gladly woos us to His side, allowing us to commune in His presence, and the moment we confess, sin just slips away. He then provides us with the tools to keep sin at bay. Even transgressions that are deep-rooted are no match to the loving God who stays with us as we slay these giants.
As we traverse the prayer garden, Beloved says, “You are fair, my love, and there is no spot in you” (Song 4:7 NKJV). He says this ahead of our cleansing because He knows the process works. He assures us we will be victorious over sin. James 4:6b-7 NKJV shows the process: “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Therefore, submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.”
It doesn’t seem logical that submitting to a loving God erases sin, but it’s true. When we see the beauty of who He is, and the depth of His love that’s indescribable in human terms, we want to be like Him. Apart from Jesus, this is impossible, but yoked to our Beloved, we become glorious within.
Do you want the Kelsie level of clean within your soul? Come to Jesus and permit His cleansing love to saturate you through and through.
Are you cleansed within?
Beloved Jesus, thank You helping me to become whom You intend me to be. As I submit, resting in Your loving embrace, I trust You to cleanse my soul.
Amen.
