Tag: life

Christian

Tidy does not Equal Clean

Highlighting Hope

I really do love having a tidy home. Nothing beats the feeling of coming into the house after grocery shopping, or just being gone all day, and everything being in its place. There is something peaceful about it. As much as I love things to be tidy, it doesn’t always stay that way. Having two young children can make that unattainable at times, but as much as I love a tidy home, I also enjoy a clean home, and just because I strive to keep my home tidy, doesn’t make it clean. I have come to realize my love for tidiness, at times, hinders me from cleaning like I should. I want everything looking orderly and when I clean, it often looks like a bomb went off in the house. Chairs are moved to another side of the room, rugs are pulled up, and decorations have to be moved so that various surfaces can be dusted, etc…

Tidiness is certainly pleasing to the eye, and if we are not careful, we can be fooled by it. Chairs can be perfectly arranged around a table, but still be surrounded by crumbs. Rugs can be perfectly positioned on the floor, and dirt still be trapped underneath. Items may be perfectly arranged for display on the furniture, but still be surrounded by dust.

Tidiness is good, but cleanliness is what really matters. What good is it anyway if all is tidy amongst filth? In the life of the believer, tidiness may look like a high commitment to church attendance, daily bible reading, surrounding yourself with Christian friends, giving of your time and resources to further the gospel, and the list could continue. All of these things are great, but in our striving to serve and have God honoring aspects in our lives and keeping things “tidy,” if we are not careful, we can begin to overlook the constant cleaning that is still required within our hearts. If you look past the appearance of these things, you will still find crumbs that need to be swept, dust that has accumulated and needs to be wiped away, or cob webs in the corners that need to be knocked down. We all have these areas in our lives.

Whatever it may be that God is showing you that needs to be clean, praise God that He has given you the eyes to see these things, and once you see it, make the effort to do what you can to clean it up. It’s not enough for us to just be tidy Christians, God desires to make us clean!

“Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.” Psalm 51:7clean

Christian

Our Shine Should be Reflective

Highlighting Hope

My daughter developed a fascination with the moon around the age of two. Her fascination soon grew to a love and she eventually named the moon “Finder.” For years our family would look for the moon on a regular basis and watch it “shrink” or “grow”, as it cycled through its phases, and of course the full moon was always our favorite find. We have stopped at red lights or even stood out on our driveway countless times, looking with awe at “Finder’s” beautiful glow against the dark night sky. As beautiful as “Finder’s” glow may be, it is a light that is not his own. I can still remember the shock that I felt as a child when I finally learned that the moon produced no light of its own, but it merely reflected what was shining upon its’ surface, and only giving off more light the more its surface became fully exposed to the sun.

The moon’s light only being a reflection of the sun’s light is actually what makes it beautiful and breathtaking. In Philippians chapter 3 Paul writes about how those of us that are in Christ are to “shine like stars in the universe.” As God continues working in us for His good purpose and pleasure, He begins the process of refining our character, and as we walk in obedience we will shine like the stars. Not that we are the star, but rather we will shine like one!

Just as the moon possess no ability to produce this beautiful, radiant light on its own, neither do we! God has allowed us the privilege of coming into His presence and then He instantly begins to shine His light upon us so that we can reflect His glory and out pouring of love, grace, and mercy. When we position ourselves fully before God, reflecting His light will be the inevitable result. Remain in God’s presence and shine His light for the world to see!

“Those who look to Him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.” Psalm 34:5shine