CLEANING HOUSE

Genesis 35:1-36:43; Matthew 12:1-21; Psalm 15:1-5; Proverbs 3:21-26

“So Jacob told everyone in his household, ‘Get rid of all your pagan idols, purify yourselves, and put on clean clothing.  We are now going to Bethel, where I will build an altar to the God who answered my prayers when I was in distress. He has been with me wherever I have gone.’”

“I tell you, there is one here who is even greater than the Temple!  But you would not have condemned my innocent disciples if you knew the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’  For the Son of Man is Lord, even over the Sabbath!’”

“Those who lead blameless lives and do what is right, speaking the truth from sincere hearts; those who refuse to gossip or harm their neighbors or speak evil of their friends; those who… keep their promises even when it hurts…. and who cannot be bribed to lie about the innocent:  such people will stand firm forever.

What other reaction to the grace and forgiveness of God could we have but to let go of old ways and false idols, and follow His path?  Knowing what I should do has never been the problem.  Doing it…, well, that is another story altogether.  It’s simple enough to understand we cannot take hold of what Jesus offers until we let go of our old lives.  Time and again, though, Christ has to gently pry my fingers off rules, regulations and “to-do” lists to reintroduce me to grace.  Especially for one so accustomed to using achievement as the yardstick of self worth, grace is not an easy concept to grasp.

It’s funny, in a sad sort of way, how the mind rebels at any new way of thinking.  Someone once observed, “The first reaction to change is usually anger, as we mourn what’s lost.”  That may include a bit of overstatement, but resistance (at least) does seem to be my first response to any influence of the Holy Spirit.  Oh, why so stubborn, so set in old ways?  Because I am so focused on self.  More honestly, perhaps, I am afraid of losing control of myself.

What is there to lose, really?  Why am I afraid of losing self?  Time and again, I have proven I am not competent to run my own life.  Certainly, past experience has proven God will do a better job, if I let Him.  Yet, still I cling to the old, keeping the new at arm’s length, and cheating myself and God in the process.

Holy Spirit, it’s time for an extreme makeover.  You take the keys.  We both know there will be some closets I’ll try to keep closed, and the cellar – oh, I’ll cry out, “Don’t go there, please!  You don’t want to see what’s down there.”  But you understand, even better than I, that the house can’t be clean if the cellar’s not clean.  And all the stuff stored there?  Hey, I may just find I don’t need it anymore.  All that guilt, just taking up space… let’s be done with it!