Clean In One Cycle

The basket of laundry in the closet was overflowing with a mixture of bath towels, kitchen rags, Mom's clothes, and mine. I just sighed. Washing clothes isn't a favourite chore of mine, but it is one that must be done on a regular basis. … Read more

John 3:16 – For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (ESV)

The basket of laundry in the closet was overflowing with a mixture of bath towels, kitchen rags, Mom's clothes, and mine. I just sighed. Washing clothes isn't a favourite chore of mine, but it is one that must be done on a regular basis. It is kind of tedious, right?

Sorting through the basket, I found enough clothes for four small loads. I could have made just two big loads, but Mom was giving me her supervisory eye.

As most know, there's a process in washing clothes: sorting them, spraying them with stain remover, making sure the water temperature and load size are right, putting in just the right amount of laundry detergent, closing the lid, pushing the start button, and walking away, letting the machine get the clothes clean.

In our spiritual lives, there is also a process of becoming clean in Christ. First, we need to believe that Jesus is God's Son, that He was born in human flesh, that He died on the cross for our sins, and that He rose again so that we can have eternal life. Then, we need to receive His living Spirit into our hearts to forgive our sins and give us new, spiritual life.

2 Corinthians 5:17 – Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. (ESV)

Becoming one in Christ, being clean, and having a new beginning aren't tedious. Praise Him for that! Like an automatic washing machine, Jesus washes ours sins clean "in one cycle" — His death on the cross. But just like our clothes get dirty and need to be washed over and over, our lives become sinful, and we need to confess our sins and be forgiven, over and over. It is a process called sanctification. Praise God that after we have received Jesus, God still views us as righteous, even though we sin.

Let's allow the Lord to keep our lives as clean as possible!

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for the opportunity of a new beginning, and for giving us the chance to become clean and stay clean. Lead us in this thing called life. Amen.