Cleaned-Up

Have you ever been told “you clean-up pretty good?”  The unsaid point is you were pretty sightly but now you’re not!  Titus 2:11-12 makes clear how Believers have been cleaned up and by whom: “For the Grace of God (His unmerited favor and blessing) has come forward (appeared) for the deliverance from sin and the eternal Salvation for all mankind. It has trained us to reject and renounce all ungodliness and worldly desires, to live discreet (temperate, self-controlled), upright, devout (spiritually whole) lives in this present world.” Lest we be guilty of getting the proverbial cart before the horse, we don’t clean-up then come to God – no! we come to God and it is He Who draws us to Himself in our dirty filthy rags then purifies us by the blood sacrifice of His Son, Jesus “Who gave Himself on our behalf that He might redeem us from all iniquity and purify for Himself a people to be peculiarly His own, people who are eager and enthusiastic about living a life that is good and filled with beneficial deeds.” (V.14). Simply put: we don’t clean-up then come to God; we come to God Who cleans us up according to His Perfect Holy Righteousness. If you’re born from above (saved, redeemed, justified), you’ve been cleaned beyond measure! Furthermore, you’re now being cleaned day-by-day (made holy, righteous, sanctified) to gladly live a life pleasing to God. Consider where you are in this cleaning process, and know there’s no better way to be than clean before the Lord.