I like a clean and tidy house. It’s hard for me to sit and relax when I know that the bathrooms need to be cleaned or I can see dirty floors and dusty furniture.
I’ve always been that way. It’s a part of who I am. My mom kept a tidy house and from what I’ve read, it’s a part of my heritage.
Yesterday I was having a particularly hard time sitting and relaxing because I could see the dust on the floors and the furniture. Dave said it looked ok and wasn’t that bad but it was certainly annoying to me.
I once read a book on a Norwegian family and the woman, who was a bit older than I, told stories about her Mom and her compulsion for cleanliness. At one point in the book she said they moved into a home, it was clean or so she thought but her mother had them scrub the floors just in case the family that had lived there before wasn’t Norwegian and didn’t understand the importance of cleanliness the way they did.
Now I’m not that bad but my husband and children may take umbrage with that last statement. However, cleaning for me isn’t a chore, it’s enjoyable. I am thankful for my home and the things I have in it and want to keep them looking nice and not let them deteriorate or come to disrepair.
And with that confession I’m sure you are wondering how all of this applies to this morning’s devotional. Let me draw the correlation.
I know that the dust seeps in and requires my attention. Then there’s the dog hair and dusty feet or food spills in the kitchen, dirty sinks and smudged windows. It all requires my attention.
I would have a real problem if someone wanted to march through the house with muddy feet or walked through the rooms spilling garbage. More importantly, I would stand up to anyone that wanted to vandalize my home or bring in a bag of snakes and scorpions.
So how do you think the Holy Spirit feels when we let our actions, our words and our activities “dirty up” His home.
“You should know that your body is a temple for the Holy Spirit that you received from God and that lives in you. You don’t own yourselves. 20 God paid a very high price to make you his. So honor God with your body.” I Corinthians 6:19-20 ERV
We are a valuable dwelling place – a temple, as it were, for the Holy Spirit to live in. We must not be careless and allow His home to fall into disarray.
“Now follow the example of the correct teaching I gave you, and let the faith and love of Christ Jesus be your model. 14 You have been trusted with a wonderful treasure. Guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit, who lives within you.” II Timothy 1:13-14 CEV
As I grow older I realize more each year how important it is that I keep my house clean. There’s no room for dishonesty, no room for bitterness or petty jealousy. I don’t want the garbage of lying, gossip, and criticism spread about and I certainly don’t want my dwelling to be vandalized by immoral living.
So it’s time for a good cleaning! Make the earthly home a place of welcome and comfort for the Holy Spirit.
” And don’t make the Holy Spirit sad. God gave you his Spirit as proof that you belong to him and that he will keep you safe until the day he makes you free. 31 Never be bitter, angry, or mad. Never shout angrily or say things to hurt others. Never do anything evil. 32 Be kind and loving to each other. Forgive each other the same as God forgave you through Christ.” Ephesians 4:30-32 ERV