As I vacuum the carpet, the motion and humming of the machine soothes me. Hungrily, it picks up dirt and debris from the floor. The bits of torn paper and the little clumps of dirt are whisked away by its wind. With nothing on my mind but the cleaning, I ponder the hidden dirt the vacuum inhales. Deep within my carpet’s fibers lay bits of unseen dirt. Even though I cannot see these specks, the vacuum pulls them out of my rug. By the time I finish, the carpet looks clean; it even looks newer through its transforming cleaning.
Now my rug is clean and the room looks beautiful. I’m glad I’ll never have to vacuum again. What? You tell me I will have to vacuum again?
Isn’t this the way God cleanses our souls? Sometimes we have surface dirt others can see—the pieces of paper, garden soil tracked in on our shoes. But what about the tiny specks of dirt and soil deep within the soul?
I don’t know about you, but I know there is dirt deep within my soul. Unkind words spoken, lack of trust in my Savior, slowness to love and respect those who think differently from me. What a mess! Fortunately, God is willing to cleanse all the grime. When I confess those sins dirtying my soul, He cleanses it, again and again. Thank you, God, for loving me just as I am, for cleaning my messes, and transforming my soul.
Oh God, much dirt has been tracked in on my soul. Help me to plug in your spiritual vacuum for cleansing.
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. I John 1:9 NKJ
Growing Our Faith Together 