Clean House.

“What does one say to outsiders who ask questions? Tell them, ‘God has established Zion. Those in need and in trouble find refuge in her.’” -Isaiah 14:32

“Change your life. God’s Kingdom is here. John and his message were authorized by Isaiah’s prophecy: Thunder in the desert! Prepare for God’s arrival! Make the road smooth and straight!” -Matthew 3:2-3

“I’m baptizing you here in the river, turning your old life in for a kingdom life. The real action comes next: The main character in this drama - compared to him I’m a mere stagehand - will ignite the kingdom life within you, a fire within you, the Holy Spirit within you, changing you from the inside out. He’s going to clean house - make a clean sweep of your lives. He’ll place everything true in its proper place before God; everything false he’ll put out with the trash to be burned.” -Matthew 3:11-12

Jesus in us re-establishes Love in each of us and cleans out all that is not. He will not leave one corner unchecked or one stone unturned within us. Praise God! Isaiah warns the corrupt of the earth that ‘getting ready to greet them/us are the ghostly dead, all the famous names of the earth.’ I bring this up because it gives light to the very-bent, me-first posture of humanity. We fawn over the famous. Why? We strive for fame. Why? This posture is not Love… this is what Jesus’ Spirit in us saves us from… Isaiah also says, ‘The poor won’t have to worry. The needy will escape the terror.’ This echoes Jesus’: Come to me all who are weary and heavy burdened and I will give you rest for your soul.

We don’t have to pretend or posture or compare; we are free to simply be His. Give Him access to clean out all the dark corners, sweep every crevice, and grow His Light, pure Love, in us… until it overflows.