After being gone for almost five months let me assure you that our house needed a good cleaning when we returned. I can write my name on nearly every piece of furniture and even on the tile floors.
First thing we did was tackle the yard and patio. Dave has been working on cleaning the patio and all that was on it, while I have focused my attention on pruning and trimming the bushes, pulling out flowers that didn’t survive the summer heat and monsoon rains and replanting. Each day has been consumed with getting things spruced up and dusted off.
I see a couple more days of work ahead but I also see that we are making headway.
So, as I sit here this morning, coffee in hand, I am grateful for the dimmed lights in my office because it keeps me from seeing the layers of dust on the desk, bookcase, table and lamps.
I am also grateful that this presents me with an opportunity to reflect on God’s grace.
How many of you know that life can get dusty? We seem to deal with the issues that are most urgent, bringing them to the Lord in prayer, asking Him for help and intervention but there are other “small” things in the corners of our heart that never truly make it to the light of day and it’s these things that the layers of dust build up on. These are the little things that we choose to ignore.
Selfishness, hurt feelings, small outbursts of anger, little exaggerations (white lies), pride, wanting to be recognized for a job well done and the resentment that comes when we aren’t.
The Apostle Paul gave us instruction in half the book of Ephesians on daily living, chapters 4 and 5, teach us to clean up our lives and imitate God in the same way children imitate their parent.
“Stop all your dirty talk. Say the right thing at the right time and help others by what you say. 30 Don’t make God’s Spirit sad. The Spirit makes you sure that someday you will be free from your sins.
31 Stop being bitter and angry and mad at others. Don’t yell at one another or curse each other or ever be rude. 32 Instead, be kind and merciful, and forgive others, just as God forgave you because of Christ.
1 Do as God does. After all, you are his dear children. 2 Let love be your guide. Christ loved us and offered his life for us as a sacrifice that pleases God.” Ephesians 4:29-5:2 CEV
Please don’t be condemned by what I’m sharing this morning. The Father loves us and His word is never meant to condemn but it does correct. Sometimes we need a reminder of how we are to act.
If we let love be our guide and do as our Father does, we will see the “dusty” places in our heart and by His grace, He will help us clean them up.