SCRIPTURE: Ephesians (NIV) 5;25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.
OBSERVATION: Why did Christ “give himself up” for the church? The first is to make her holy. Our only hope for holiness is Christ! We who are stained with sin can never cleanse ourselves. It must come from another.
We are cleansed by the water that flowed from His wounds and the water of the Word. As we make ourselves available to the Word, the spirit takes the truth and applies it to our lives. It is not just the Word that cleanses us, but the “washing” action of applying that word.
WE are to be washed by the Word. These SOAPs take the word and apply it to my life in the application portion. As I apply the word, I am being washed by the word. Some stains take more scrubbing than others. The word can be the mild detergent needed on soft hearts. The Word can also be the extra-strength detergent needed to get out hard stains.
APPLICATION: So, often, as my wife and I go to the market, on our list of things needed is soap. We buy a large container, but it is always running out. Sharon uses soap in every load of wash. We do not get our clothes very dirty, but detergent/soap is needed to get them clean. When things are “extra” dirty, we use stronger detergent.
And like Sharon, the Holy Spirit uses the word to clean up my life, even the small portions in these SOAPs. The Holy Spirit is excellent in applying the Word to my heart. He is the author of the Word. He knows the Word, and He knows Leon. He lovingly applies it as needed. Through the Word, He brings me comfort, encouragement, direction and cleaning.
PRAYER: Holy Spirit, wash me in the Word every day. May my life bring our Father great joy. May Jesus know how much I appreciate all He has done for me. Amen
Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!
On Facebook: Today’s SOAP from Pastor Leon
Also on: https://soapsbyleon.com
SOAPs by Pastor Leon 