A Call to ActionSample

Clean Up

It’s incredible to know that God is calling out to us every day and that we have an opportunity to respond every day. Today, we’re looking at the call in God’s Word to clean up. Romans 13:12–13 (NLT) tells us: “remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes” and do not “participate in the darkness.” As Christians, we must reject the ways of darkness and get rid of them like we get rid of ratty clothes.

You see, it’s because of sin that the world we live in exists in a type of darkness. It’s in this darkness that sin and evil flourish. The book of John tells us that Jesus is the Light of the world. Just like turning the light on in a dirty room reveals the mess that was hidden in the darkness, Christ’s light reveals the mess in our own hearts.

Another way to imagine Christ’s revealing light is to think about a glow stick. In the dark, the glow stick is fun and vibrant, but when you see it in the light, the glow stick is pale and lifeless. That’s how sin is. It looks exciting and full of life in the darkness, but once we get it in front of the Light, we see it for what it really is.

So, what do we do when we’re confronted with the sin and mess in our lives? There’s no way we can fix ourselves or make ourselves clean, but we have good news in the gospel of Jesus Christ! We are invited daily to bring our uncleanness to Jesus so He can forgive and transform us. All through the Bible, we read stories of men and women like Rahab, Jacob, and Paul, who allowed God to clean them up and use them in an awesome way.

If you feel like God is shining a light on any hidden sin or darkness in your life today, turn to Him and accept His forgiveness and grace. He’s ready to clean you up!

Thought of the Day: Jesus is the Light of the world. As a Christian, I am called to reject darkness and live in Christ’s light. Sometimes, that light shows the mess in my heart; when it does, I will bring myself to Jesus so He can forgive and transform me.