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).