Everyone should have access to clean water. Without it, people can get water-borne diseases, some of them life-threatening. So, water is boiled, distilled, sterilized, filtered, and purified for health reasons. These processes are all about extracting what is harmful.
On the other hand, clean eating is about eating food in its natural state – whole foods that are unrefined, minimally processed, and without artificial ingredients. There’s a lot of buzz these days about “eating clean,” and it boils down to not adding harmful ingredients to food but instead, eating what is pure and clean.
These ideas have some spiritual applications, too. When you think about your spiritual life, what are you filtering out? Are you intentionally taking care not to add impurities to areas of your life? If so, what are those areas? Think about what you are throwing out intentionally, and what are you are careful about not adding.
Recently, I met with a friend over dinner, and we talked about our spiritual lives. We discussed how easy it is to try to take in all that’s out there in the Christian subculture – in social media, books, blog posts, etc. – and then think that we’re growing spiritually. But instead, are we trying to feed off the growth of other believers? Sure, we can gain some spiritual “nutrition” from following our favorite spiritual leader. But it’s not the same as nurturing our own personal relationship with God.
This thought convicted me that I need to spend more time with God in His Word to allow Him to actively speak to me. I long to be purified in my own spiritual life – to hear personally from God – and not just take in what others say about their walk with Him.
Do you also long to deepen your personal relationship with Jesus Christ?
“Teach me your ways, O Lord, that I may live according to your truth! Grant me purity of heart so that I may honor you.” – Psalm 86:11
“If you keep yourself pure, you will be a special utensil for honorable use. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work.” – 2 Timothy 2:21
Aren’t you glad it’s not up to us alone to get to a place of spiritual purification? True spiritual purification is possible only through Jesus Christ.
Jesus prayed to the Father on the night before the crucifixion:
“Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth. Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world. And I give myself as a holy sacrifice for them so they can be made holy by your truth.” – John 17:17-19
During this Easter season and beyond, I pray we will confess the impurity in our lives and take in the wonderful-tasting Word of God. As we do so, may we be filled with Christlikeness that overflows to a world that needs to taste of His goodness.
Anne Schneider
Northeast Field Director
Inspirational