FEBRUARY 24th 2022

Have you ever done an internet search for clean and bright? It’s amazing how many different items that come up in a search. Here are just a few: Clean and Bright, Clean and Clear, Clean Brite, Bright and Clean and on and on, you get the ideal.

The global laundry detergent market size was valued at USD 154.34 billion in 2021. You might be thinking Pastor Greg what’s your point? My point is we spend a lot of money and take a lot of time on cleaning up things in our lives. But we need to ask ourselves how much cleaning are we doing in our lives spiritually versus physically.

The Word of God written to us gives us guidelines and direction for cleaning our lives for now and the benefit of the eternity:

*Psalm 119:9,11 KJVS
Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. [11] Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

*Psalm 119:9,11 NET
How can a young person maintain a pure life? By guarding it according to your instructions! [11] In my heart I store up your words, so I might not sin against you.

The world tries to teach us that sin and filth is simply going to always be a dominating factor in your daily life. But we can either live by the world’s wisdom which the Epistle of James 3:15 tells us is devilish, or we can live by the wisdom from above.

Your life today is completely made up of your choices and decisions of yesterday. Notice the psalmist tells us the emphasis is on us. Just as we take responsibility of cleaning our laundry, our house, our automobile, and our physical bodies we must take care of our spirit and soul.

*Psalm 17:4 KJVS
Concerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer.

*Psalm 17:4 NET
As for the actions of people- just as you have commanded, I have not followed in the footsteps of violent men.

Notice we have this great promise to be able to avoid the path of the destroyer, the foot path or steps of violent men. How? By the word of God leading us we can avoid following in the path of the world. Don’t follow the crowd, there is not safety in numbers:

*Matthew 7:13-14 KJVS
Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: [14] Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

*Matthew 7:13-14 NET
“Enter through the narrow gate, because the gate is wide and the way is spacious that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. [14] How narrow is the gate and difficult the way that leads to life, and there are few who find it!

Ask yourself: do I want to be a part of the many, or a part of the few who find the narrow gate of life?

Let’s look at some principles from the New Testament that will enable us to walk on the path of life that is clean and bright. Turn with me to 1st Corinthians:

*1 Corinthians 10:31 KJVS
Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

*1 Corinthians 10:31 NET
So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God.

The Word of God has just empowered us with a great revelation of how to live knowing what is our top priority. Everything that we do in life is designed to bring God glory. Just think the Bible says that you were created for God’s pleasure and that you are his greatest masterpiece. So this great truth that Paul is writing to the church at Corinth opens up the possibility of even bringing God glory in the simplest of everyday task.

*Colossians 3:17 KJVS
And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

*Colossians 3:17 NET
And whatever you do in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

So here the principal is the same but with even more application. Every word and work is to be done in the name, meaning the character of the Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of thanks. In other words how can I make my life clean and bright, simply by living out the principles of God’s Word. Jesus our Lord taught from the natural like building blocks to a child to enlighten the things of the spiritual. We don’t have to look for some deep revelation to be able to live a clean and bright life we simply must apply the Word at this point of growth in our lives and the fruit will naturally be produced out of our lives.

*1 Corinthians 6:19-20 KJVS
What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? [20] For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

*1 Corinthians 6:19-20 NET
Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? [20] For you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God with your body.

Our bodies are the earthly Tabernacle of our spirit. When we get born again from above by our confession of Jesus Christ as Lord, the Holy Spirit comes and abides in our spirit. Jesus promised us that the Holy Spirit would become our teacher and our guide. With him teaching us truth to live clean and bright lives we have the promise of bringing glory to God even with our bodies.

Now we understand why there is such a great struggle for you to free your body to do whatever the flesh desires to do. The world teaches if it feels good do it, the Word teaches your body is the Temple of the spirit of God designed for the glory of God.

I will speak this forth in passing, because in a future devotion we will be talking in more details. Our bodies seek pleasure, our soul seeks happiness, but true Joy is in our spirit from the Lord.

Closing prayer and decree: Father in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I accept Your Word as the final authority in my life. I will receive correction as Your Holy Spirit brings instruction to me. I praise You and thank You in advance that Your Word is working in me. I decree that by the Word of God I will avoid the path and problems of the wicked. I decree that my way is being cleansed by the Word of God. I decree that I was created for Your pleasure and I will bring You glory even in what I eat and drink, in Jesus name amen.