Spring Cleaning!

2 Kings 22:14-23:30

Throughout the year, many who own homes or rent apartments, usually accumulate excessive amounts of clothing, tools and equipment, and most notably, dirt and grime. For this reason, “Spring Cleaning” was coined to represent a time when conducting a thorough cleaning of the home, or place of living should, take place. Usually, moms take charge of going through every area of the home, in an effort to get rid of things that have little to no value, then go to work on those areas until they are clean enough to her liking. Children are usually involved in this process, but not to the same extent as mothers.

Keeping things stored that add no value to your living situation, only take up space for things that actually can add value. In most cases of spring cleaning, junk is thrown out, and messy places are renewed to reveal their intended freshness. While living the Christian life, it’s easy to get attached to things that aren’t healthy for our souls, if we aren’t careful. For instance, if you check the hearts of the average believer, I’m almost certain you’ll find one or two items in their “inner man”, that are unhealthy for their spiritual development. Just as mom’s designate times to thoroughly clean their homes, the children of God should do the same to keep their hearts and minds clean, and unspotted from the world. It’s important to take moments during the day to examine whether the things in your life are adding to your growth in godliness, or if they represent something contrary to holy living.

Our text gives a great example of how the process of purifying our souls should be conducted. In the previous lesson, king Josiah heard the word of God for the first time, then was immediately convicted, and sought to make things right. This young man not only intended to turn the hearts of the people toward righteous living, but he literally cleaned out EVERYTHING that brought dishonor to the name of the Lord. Below is a brief list of some of the things Josiah was provoked to put into action:

-burned all vessels that were made for baal
-put down the idolatrous priests whom the kings of Judah had ordained to burn incense in the high places in the cities of Judah, and around Jerusalem, and those who burned incense to baal, the sun, and to the moon, planets, and hosts of heaven
-burned all the wooden images in the house of the Lord, until they were like powder
-broke down the houses of the sodomites near the house of the Lord, where women wove decorations for the graven images
-defiled all high places where the priests burned incense
-removed horses that the kings of Judah had dedicated to the sun, then burned the chariots of the sun with fire
-beat down and brake all altars made by the evil kings of Judah
-defiled all the abominations built by king Solomon -broke in pieces all the graven images, and filled their places with the bones of men

To what extent do you go, to keep your heart clean before the Lord?

A Servant’s Plea

2 Kings 5:1-14

If you were suffering from a condition that alienated you from people, brought shame and misery to your name, and was guaranteed to make the rest of your days on the earth a living nightmare, would you pass up the opportunity to be totally healed, if told to do something that seemed uncomfortable and unconventional? Would you allow pride and arrogance to cause you to miss out on a once in a lifetime experience, and be left to suffer in your condition forever? I can’t speak for all men, but I wouldn’t hesitate to take that offer.

Our text introduces us to a man who was captain of the Syrian army, and was deemed great and honourable. He was also a mighty man in valor, and while these accolades portray him as someone of great prestige, there was something in his life that cast a dark shadow along his path. The head of the Syrian army suffered from leprosy. According to answersingenesis.org, leprosy was considered a curse of God for many centuries, and it was often associated with sin. It did not kill, but neither did it seem to end. Instead, it lingered for years, causing the tissues to degenerate, deforming the body.

Many have thought leprosy to be a disease of the skin, but it is better classified as a disease of the nervous system, because the leprosy bacterium attacks the nerves. Its symptoms start in the skin and peripheral nervous system (outside the brain and spinal cord), then spread to other parts, such as the hands, feet, face, and earlobes. People with leprosy experience disfigurement of the skin and bones, twisting of the limbs, and curling of the fingers to form the characteristic claw hand. Facial changes include thickening of the outer ear and collapsing of the nose. The Bible isn’t clear concerning the stage of the captain’s leprosy, but I’m certain he was ready and willing to do whatever it required, to be healed from it. Or was he?

After hearing from a young maid about a prophet in Israel who could heal the captain of his condition, the king of Syria sent a letter to the king of Israel, requesting the aid of the prophet. Elisha heard the news of what was going on, then asked that the men come to him at his house. When the captain and those with him arrived at the door of Elisha’s house, the prophet sent a messenger to them saying, “Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean” (vs.10). During these times, the Jordan river wasn’t known to be the cleanest, so upon hearing the instructions of the messenger, the captain became very angry, and thought he would receive healing by the hand and words of the prophet himself. He even made mention that there were other rivers more clean than the Jordan, so why not send him to those. Had it not been for his servants, who convinced the captain that the words spoken of the prophet should be obeyed, despite full understanding of the instructions, he probably would have kept his leprosy for the rest of his days.

The captain obeyed the words of the prophet Elisha, and his flesh came again like the flesh of a child, and he was clean. You may not suffer from leprosy, or a life altering disease, but God can do more than simply physically healing; He can restore the joy of His salvation in your heart, renew your mind and spirit, strengthen your weary faith and even bring your broken focus, back to Him.

“Trust God in all things, no matter how big or small, because there’s nothing to hard for Him to heal at all.” – Ell

Mindless Paparazzi

Mark 7:1-8

When people deliberately go out of their way to get on your nerves, how do you respond to them? When some of those same people join themselves with others who have nothing better to do than disturb your day, and make attempts to find fault in your life, when their own lives are torn up from the floor up, what method works best to get them to think twice about approaching you ever again? What do you do, when the people who seek to bring you down, confess to be followers of Christ? Believe it or not, Jesus dealt with these same issues more often than He would have liked to, but the way He handled His haters were always priceless moments.

I love Jesus so much! He always knew the perfect words to say to those who often made attempts to set Him up for failure. The scribes and Pharisees would usually follow Jesus and His disciples, in the same way the paparazzi hover around celebrities today. Rather than commit their hearts solely to obeying the commandments of God, they took more delight in holding the traditions of men. Thus, their worship to God was in vain, because their hearts were set on keeping to traditions, instead of sincere worship and obedience to God’s commands.

In our text, the Pharisees were so concerned about the disciples washing their hands before eating, that they failed to see how dirty their own hearts were toward the ways of godliness. Jesus confronted the pesky men with Scriptures, to counter their failed attempt to ensnare Him in their futile trap.

The Word of God is the best defense, against any trick or trap the enemy sets against us. The next time someone boldly accuses you of not following a tradition that means nothing to God, slap them with a few verses of Scripture, showing them that their souls are more important than dove-washed hands, and febreeze fragranced clothing.

Keep your chin up… it’s easier to see Heaven that way,

Ell

Back In The Day…

Malachi 2:17-3:4

If you could lay the ole’ days side by side with modern times, there would be very little similarities, and a looooooong list of differences. It’s hard not to think back on how things use to be, because the days continue to get worse. I can remember the times, when children actually enjoyed playing outside (after doing their homework, without internet assistance), and never complained that it was too hot, or got tired after 5 minutes of running around. Food was actually healthier in the past, and home cooked meals were a norm in most houses. Churches worked together in providing services to communities, and even managed to convince some to give their hearts to the Lord. “Those were the days” (in my Archie and Edith Bunker voice lol). Unfortunately, kids have become slothful, food isn’t really “food” these days, and churches have become more social clubs than houses of prayer.

There’s nothing new under the sun, because back in ancient times, the children of God experienced the same unhealthy habits we partake of today. They would offer up acceptable offerings to the Father, and He was pleased, but over time, those offerings would be rejected, because God was more concerned about the people living holy, rather than presenting unpleasant sacrifices. When our lives don’t mirror the image of God, He cares nothing for an offering or sacrifice, until we get ourselves together. “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Mark 8:36, 37). God cares for the human soul, but the soul that sins (without repentance), shall surely die. Forget about all your offerings, and things you do to supposedly make God proud, and focus on maintaining a healthy spiritual relationship with the Father. When you and God are tight, then the rest of your life will align itself accordingly. You’ll love people more, and be more apt to give acceptable offerings to God. Never forget, only in God, can you make this world a better place.

Walk in love,

Ell

Godly Representatives

Psalm 50:1-15

Parents (mainly mothers) are keen on making sure their children are well groomed, and pleasant, before leaving the house. Shirts should be tucked in, belts buckled, shoes laced properly, noses wiped, and all crunchies removed from the eyes, so that when the children are presented to the public, they represent their parents well. Throughout the day, children have the tendency to slack from following their parents instructions, especially when they are absent from each other, but when the kids see mom and dad coming, they quickly gather themselves together, and try to look as good as they did, before leaving the house.

God loves His children beyond what words can describe, and He takes delight in making sure they look good to the world. When we pray, study, and live holy before leaving our homes, God allows our lights to shine bright, and illuminate the darkness throughout world. Just as kids sometimes get a little loose when their parents leave their presence for a moment, children of God also have moments when they get a little lax in their Christian duties. In these moments, God allows things to happen, in order to guide us back into good standing with Him. This is important because, if God didn’t care for His people, and allowed them to remain unkempt, in a sense, the enemy would gladly, and easily sift them as wheat. I’m so grateful that God is good, His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations. God is our loving Father, and we should strive to represent Him better and better, each day.

Walk in love

Ell

Keep your house clean

1 Kings 8:22-30, 52-53

The time of year when many people put forth great effort to tidy up their homes is during springtime. Throughout the year, we find ourselves accumulating and storing up things that tend to pile up in our closets, garages, or under our beds. Most of what we store could either be given away to someone in need, or thrown in the garbage. A clean house, is a healthy one, and makes a home worth inhabiting. Not only do we benefit from keeping our houses clean, but they become attractive to those who desire to visit our homes. Can you recall a time when you received a last minute notice that you would be having company, but you knew your house was like a jungle inside? No matter how much you tried to clean and put things away, there wasn’t enough time to set things in proper order. To avoid being caught off guard by unexpected guests, or just to keep a healthy home, scheduling regular deep cleanings is always the wise choice.

When God knocks on the door of your heart, what will He find inside? Do you keep your heart clean daily, and avoid storing up things that can cause harm to your spiritual house? How often do you perform deep cleanings of your heart, mind, and soul? Maintaining a clean heart is essential in walking effectively in godliness. Even when we pray, God hears the petitions of those who’s hearts are pure, and motives set on pleasing Him. When you interact with others, you’ll have more positive experiences when your words and actions flow from a clean heart. On the contrary, when we harbor negative vibes on the inside, our behavior may tend to offend, or make others uneasy, while in their presence.

God stands at the ready to answer our prayers, but until our hearts are clean, He’ll turn a deaf ear to our requests. When king Solomon prayed to God for continued blessings over Israel, His requests were granted, because he came to God in the right posture, and position. When we approach God, we must also come correct, if we expect to have our desires granted as well. Don’t allow things that are unhealthy to your spirituality to accumulate in your heart. Instead, take time daily, and ask God to purge you of anything in your heart and mind, that would keep you from obtaining your blessings. “Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid. What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh. But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s”. (1 Corinthians 6:15-20)

Walk in love,

Ell

Clean feet, clean hands

John 13:2-7

Footwashing occurs frequently in the Old and New Testaments. Generally, there were two known situations where footwashing was observed: domestic settings for hygiene and comfort, and domestic settings devoted to hospitality. In the Torah, priests were required to wash their hands and feet before entering the holy place of the tabernacle to offer sacrifices on the altar. Moses received these commands in Exodus 30:17-21. The hands and feet would be washed regularly because of their relatively higher exposure to being contaminated. In the Old Testament it is common to associate footwashing with the priestly admission into the tabernacle and temple as well. Footwashing also prepared you for a variety of activities, like a meal for example, and was used for personal hygiene and comfort, as mentioned earlier. One of the primary forms of footwashing was as a sign of welcome.

In our text, we find where Jesus had finished supper, and began to wash the disciple’s feet. This act wasn’t a knock against tradition, instead, Jesus felt the need to teach another example of humility to His unwise disciples, after they held an ill-timed discussion concerning which of them should be accounted the greatest in the Kingdom. How could they think on such things during the final hours of Jesus’ time on the earth? While all their attention should have been focused on the sufferings Jesus was about to endure, the disciples chose to care more about their status in the kingdom, than on the unbearable persecution Christ was soon to face.

Even today, many churches still practice the footwashing tradition, and I’m in full support of it, but it hasn’t removed that same evil spirit that causes men to fight over power and position. It is still being manifested in churches across the globe, despite how clean the members feet may be. In Matthew 18, Jesus had rebuked this same spirit by setting a little child in the midst of the disciples, and said they had to become as little children, and not seek to hold authority over one another. Years after this teaching, the disciples still didn’t learn their lesson. Before He left the scene, Jesus had a desire to do away with this spirit for worldly honor and recognition, because this behavior could have become detrimental to the foundation of the church.

As the body of Christ, we too must get rid of the spirit of self-exaltation, and the desire to have rule and authority over all other Christians, because refusing to do so can severely damage our mission and purpose to win the lost. Our reflection of godliness is marred when we give in to satan, and his unholy ways, so love one another, as Christ loves us. Whether you participate in footwashing, or some other outward act of humility, make sure that after all you do, you heart changes too.

Walk in love,

Ell