Keeping Clean!

There was a time when people read their Bible daily and bathed only once a week. Today there are many who bathe daily while only reading their Bible once a week -- if at all -- on a regular basis. Though it has been said that "cleanliness is next to godliness" (which, by the way, is not a statement taken directly from the Scriptures), it is our connection to God through Christ that brings the true cleanliness associated with GODLY LIVING. Though soap and water aid in sanitary living, God has provided the means for spiritual cleanliness that is far more important because rather than warding off physical disease, His cleansing relates to the heart, mind, and soul and is of eternal consequence.

Repenting and being baptized into Christ for the forgiveness of our sins ( Acts 2:38) and having put him on in this way ( Galatians 3:27), we have come into a sanctified relationship with Him. Cleansing continues through our abiding fellowship with Him which maintains our contact with His cleansing blood. ( 1 John 1:7) In Paul's letter to the church at Ephesus he noted how we -- as the church -- have been cleansed "by the WASHING OF WATER WITH THE WORD." ( Ephesians 5:26 ESV) Both "water" and "the word" were mentioned by Paul.

As Jesus told His disciples a parable relative to remaining connected to Him and therefore being able to live fruitful lives ( John 15:1-11), He stated. . .

"(13) Already YOU ARE CLEAN BECAUSE OF THE WORD THAT I HAVE SPOKEN TO YOU. (4) ABIDE IN ME, and I IN YOU. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. (5) I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing." ( John 15:3-5 ESV)

Cleaned (pruned) branches bear more fruit. Clean lives set better examples and glorify God through the living out of His purposes. Continuing to daily read God's Word will aid in keeping heart and mind focused where they should be so as to weed out the thoughts that are impure and direct the life toward continual HOLY LIVING. May the cleansing of our life be from the inside out as we properly immerse the heart, mind, and soul in daily washings of God's Word.

Have a great day MAINTAINING PROPER SPIRITUAL HYGIENE!
Carl

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