Friday, August 10, 2012

Washed Clean


Wash Me, image courtesy of Barbecue Master

I was raised by Southern women...
    my mother and grandmother.
These were “Old School” women;
    who had no need for process improvement.
    They had a method.
Now even though...
    there were modern conveniences
    like a clothes dryer,
    my grandmother preferred to use a clothes line...
    to dry our clothes.

As a boy...
    I hated taking a basket of clothes outside,
    and hanging each piece on a line.
I can still remember the scent of bleach in the sheets,
    and detergent in the clothes my brothers and I wore.
Back then, there was no scented detergent.
So if you smelled anything,
    it could only the hint of powdered detergent.
That's how I knew the clothes were “clean”.
But even though these clothes were clean,
    they would soon need to be washed again.

I believe God is “Old School” too,
    since He has no need for process improvement.
The bible says:
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8, NIV)
Even God Himself has said:
I the Lord do not change.” (Malachi 3:8, NIV)

Since God doesn't change,
    it's only natural that we become
    “agents of change”.
When did I change?
Who changed in me?
How have I changed?

Having been washed in the blood of the Lamb,
    I changed from darkness to light.
Even though I’ve been washed,
    I still need cleansing;
    just like those childhood clothes...
    I hung out to dry.

I don't need to be washed again (in the blood of the Lamb),
    but I do need to be cleansed.

You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.” (John 15:3, NIV)
…Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word…” (Ephesians 5:25-26, NIV)
The Word of God acts as a kind of detergent,
    cleansing me through and through;
    my thoughts, my words, my behavior, my life...
    washed clean!

Poem by MTJ


Note: This post is linked to Spiritual Sundays (hosted by Charlotte).Spiritual Sunday's

7 comments:

Esther Joy said...

Great thoughts you expressed in this poem! I enjoyed it! Thanks for sharing!

Pamela said...

Well written. Love the analogy you used here. I like the thought of God being old school. A thought to carry with me throughout the next week.

Charlotte said...

This post brought back memories of helping my mother hang clothes on the clothesline after going with her to a laundry that had the old fashioned wringer type washing machines. Bringing in the clothes, "sprinkling" the things that needed ironing which was just about everything and then ironing them after they "set" awhile and the moisture permeated the article. Good old days? I guess so. I have fond memories though I'm so glad I don't have to do it that way. But - washed in the blood of the lamb, now that's really clean. And the method doesn't change. It is the same today as it was 2000 years ago. Wow.
Thanks for sharing.
Blessings,
Charlotte

Saleslady371 said...

Good message. My mom used a clothesline and so did I so I can relate to the smells.

Anita Johnson said...

It brought back memories for me too...I can still smell the fragrance of sheets hung out to dry. Sometimes I can smell it on our clothes after a walk in the fall air. I love your analogy of God's word acting like a detergent, cleansing us through and through.

Unknown said...

Yes, the scent of Jesus and His redemption! Great poem and analogy!

We had a clothesline built into our yard early on. A dryer was purchased pretty quickly and the old metal posts became just something to hang ourselves on.

Karen
Idaho

From The Heart Online said...

I love this comparison - that we are laundry, washed clean. - the scent on us is His presence! Also enjoy how He is so... simple and complicated all at once - that we are clean yet being cleansed.

Love the piece and the thought.
I know I'll be thinking of it the next time I'm doing laundry. (especially hand washing!) :)