Squeaky Clean

My mom is one of the best gift givers I know rivalled only by my husband, Tim, and this Christmas she along with my father gave me two coupons that stated she would bring her house cleaner to my home for the day to help me with whatever house-cleaning tasks remain frustrating to the point of neglect, so today I cashed in my first coupon. While I was busying around early this morning attempting to tidy the house before mom arrived with her cleaning lady, Fannie, in tow, it occurred to me how ridiculous it was to clean for the cleaning lady, and that thought reminded me of how before I officially became a Christian, I kept putting it off thinking I had to prepare myself before I asked Jesus into my heart. I would try very hard for a period of time to be what I considered good, and of course, fail, but I had this ridiculous notion that I couldn't invite Jesus in until I got myself all cleaned up in terms of behavior fully realizing that was his job. I can now see how silly that idea was, but at the time, it was very real to me and caused me to put off a very important decision for longer than was necessary because now, I know that just like Fannie thinks nothing of walking into a dirty house and getting down to the business of deep cleaning because that is her job, Jesus knows we are a mess, being that we're human and all, and gladly enters into our lives no matter how messy they are with the intent of accomplishing what we cannot on our own...cleaning things up until we are white as snow. I am very grateful for how sparkly clean my shower doors are at this moment and the crisp, new look of the upolstry on my freshly scrubbed furniture, but I am eternally grateful for the masterful cleaning job that Jesus did in my heart when I invited him to be a part of my life by committing to following his teachings and acknowledging I needed the forgiveness he offered on the cross. If you knew the me that I am without Jesus, you would be thankful too;) The before and after difference in me is much more breathtaking than the gleam of my shower doors, or the fresh scent of cleaner that wafts into ones nose when they walk through the door of my house today. If your life is a mess, I highly recommend asking Jesus to help you tidy tings up because he cleans up a life better than Scrubbing Bubbles cleans a shower or Resolve cleans upolstry!

Scriptures of Note:

Matthew 23:26 First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then, the outside also will be clean.

Psalm 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, oh God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

1 Peter 2: 24 He himself bore our sins upon that tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Isaiah 1:18 "Come now, let us reason together, " says the Lord. "Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they be red as crimson, they shall be like wool.