Soak, Scrub, Rinse, Repeat

via Clean

Some stains are just seem impossible to clean. There are experts everywhere who seem to think they know the best way to attack this problem.  For example, one such solution for removing wine stains on clothing goes like this…

(1) act immediately: blot don’t rub; (2) strap the cloth down over a large bowl and secure it with a rubber band; (3) get salty: pour club soda or ice water on the stain and cover it with salt for 5 minutes; (4) heat it up: pour boiling water over the stain, then rinse.  If the stain is still present (5) soak in water and white vinegar then launder as normal.

Sounds like sage advice to me.  Wine stains can be a real problem.

There are stains that go way deeper than wine however, and our lives are filled with them.  That’s because life is messy most of the time.  Spills, tears, hurts and pains caused by our own actions, or the actions of others, often leave us feeling dirty, disheveled, and depressed.  Where does someone find relief and restoration to that “clean” state of being?

John the Apostle wrote the Gospel of John regarding the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ; letters to the churches in the Roman province of Asia; and the book of Revelation.  In the first letter, he wrote to the churches: “This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.  If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin.” [1 John 1:5-7]

People who live in the stain saturated darkness of the world need the cleansing power of Jesus.  I may never be able to convince them of this, in fact it isn’t even my job to try.  My task and calling is simply to offer this truth to them for acceptance.  The convincing responsibility is solely the job of the Holy Spirit of God.  For those of you who have experienced this cleansing power, one other thing you know is, it is never a once and done deal.  Because life is messy.  Because I may be clean today, but by this time tomorrow, I will have spilled something, sat in something, or had something splash onto me (spiritually) that causes me to need this cleansing again.

The daily process of a true child of the King consists of: soak, scrub, rinse, repeat.

Soak:  Philippians 4:8
Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.

Scrub:  1 John 1
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Rinse: Psalm 51:7
Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Repeat: Acts 3:19
Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.

If you’re feeling a little “disheveled” today… this may offer some relief and restoration.