Do you struggle with little sins popping up in your life? You are not the only one. It's ok to be constantly cleaning up your life. In fact, we all should make a habit of it.
Late one Saturday night, I found myself searching through the pantry for something sweet to settle the hankering in my tastebuds. Thinking there must be nothing sweet left in the house, my eyes widened when I spotted a candy bar snuggled between the dried beans and canned goods. As I hastily snuck my hand into the dark abyss, I failed to notice the glass jar teetering on edge at the other end of the shelf. Snatching my hand back into the light, holding my prize, I planned to sneak off to a quiet place and tear into it. Alas, my smile fell too soon when the glass jar tipped off the shelf and shatter with a loud crack beside me. Looking down, I sighed at the pool of maple syrup slowly spreading under my feet. My favorite suede shoes displayed a shiny coat of the same amber sweetness that was dripping from the hem of my jeans.
Deep breath....
Taking my shoes off first, then jeans, I thanked the Lord the rest of my family was asleep as I tiptoed out of the kitchen in my bare legs and Disney socks. A quick jump into a pair of sweats and I’m back the kitchen again, staring down the sticky puddle of glass shards...yuck! Two chlorox wipes into the mess, my finger was already bleeding. Sitting in my duck face thinking pose, I decided to use my thick rubber garden gloves while I finished cleaning and hurried to remove all trace of the mishap.
After starting the laundry, with a quick prayer that my suede shoes survive, I came back to the now drying floor. Ouch, a sliver of glass that had clung to my sleeve stuck right into the palm of my hand. *Exasperated huff*. As I glared at the crime scene I noticed a tiny sparkle and dropped to my knees to find another little shard. Out came the broom for another sweep around the area, and just for good measure, I did it twice. There, all clean again, I hope. The little sparkles taunting me from the dust pan set my mind to ticking. There would be others. Every time I clean the floor I’m sure one or two will pop up. Funny, isn’t that just how sin is in our lives? We’re just walking along, doing whatever things we need to do that day and then we bump into sin. It’s never neat and clean. Theres always a mess to clean up and no matter how clean you think you’ve made your life, it will continue to pop up from time to time, forcing you to clean everything up again.
“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”
In order to minimize the chance of other shards lying about the room, I had to sweep the floor several times. In my walk with God, I need to clean up the things that have collected in the corners like dust before they dirty up my life and I have to starts scrubbing on my hands and knees. Don't be discouraged if you need to "Clean Up" more often than you think you should have to. The desire to remove ungodly things from our lives comes from the Holy Spirit. He reminds us when something isn't right in our lives so that we can take action and clean it up.
“Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.”
While you are cleaning the house in your heart today, remember to make room and time for Jesus. he wants to spend time with you. Enjoy your day, Little Sparrows.
-ScriptureSparrow