SPIRITUAL CLEANSING

READ GENESIS 35:1-7

MEMORISE: Then God said to Jacob, “Arise, go up to Bethel and dwell there; and make an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you fled from the face of Esau your brother.” (Genesis 35:1)

To make progress in our Christian life, we must make a complete break from the old life that hinders our faithfulness in God. Before Jacob and his family could move forward, they had to first clean their house. They had to rid themselves of idols, that is, anything one trusts, desires, or prioritises over and against God. Then they had to purify themselves – an outward washing, which typifies the inward cleansing the Christian experience as they confess, repent, and renounce sin in their lives. They had to change their clothes, which was symbolic of leaving the old sin-tainted lifestyles behind, and putting on the garment of righteousness.

They even got rid of all their earrings (Gen 35:4), which apparently had some association with paganism or cultism. In summary, they had to completely renounce and rid themselves of those things that offend the holy God and could hinder their spiritual walk with such a God (cf. Rom 10:4; Eph 4:20ff).

What does this mean for us? We cannot make progress until we willingly lay aside anything in our lives that God’s Word has shown us is offensive to Him. Some of these could be our plans, ungodly attitudes, sins and goals other than God’s. We need to be purged of all these.

PRAYER POINTS:

1. Lord, deliver me from motives that do not come from You, and help me to pursue Your own plan for my life.
2. Lord, deliver me from every form of idolatry.
3. Lord, purge Your Church of anything that can take her away from Your plan and purpose.

EXTRA READING: 1 TIMOTHY CHAPTER 6 – 2 TIMOTHY CHAPTER 1