God Came To Clean Up Your Mess!

How many times have I told my family, “You can use the kitchen, so long as you clean up your mess.” As parents, we start teaching our children as toddlers that we clean up our own messes. We pick up our toys, blocks, and help clean up our spilled milk. As we grow older, and see people making dumb choices we sometimes say “You made your bed, now you can lie in it” or “You got yourself into this mess, you get yourself out.” Our human nature guides us to be responsible for ourselves, and clean up our own messes. This is the thinking that causes people to think they have to clean up and straighten up their lives before they come to church or before they come to God. We don’t feel worthy to ask God to help us out of a mess we made ourselves. To those who are already saved, and manage to mess up and make bad choices (as we always do), we think that God is going to rain down judgment and certainly won’t help us out of a bad situation we put ourselves in.

Fortunately, God is not human. Romans 11:33 says “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!” The most awesome thing is that God came to clean up our mess. He knew we couldn’t do it, that we had made too big of a mess of our lives. Romans 5:8 says that “God shows his love for us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” He didn’t say, if you will change and clean up your life, I will die for you and save you. The only thing you have to do is believe that you need Him and that He is God and came to save you. Is your life in a mess right now? Do you feel like it’s more than you can handle, but you don’t feel that you have the right to ask God for help. Please remember God’s great love for you, and know that He wants to help clean up your mess!

Pop Quiz

This morning our pastor preached on how we should treat others. His premise was that God loves everyone and He died for everyone. He loves and died for the stinky bum on the street corner; the cruel bully; the snooty, rich man; the neighbor that you wished would move; and that person that “looks like he fell in a tackle box.” Tonight after church, God gave us a pop quiz covering that sermon. There was an old truck with some guys who had run out of gas right in front of the church and people could have easily judged them and been afraid to help, but we made sure they had gas and were on their way.

It’s so easy to judge those who aren’t just like us. Who says we are normal, and the good Lord knows we aren’t perfect. If we are Christians, we have a higher calling and higher expectations placed on us. We are expected to help those people God places in our path. It’s usually pretty clear, when you know God is asking you to help someone.

People are always in a quandary about when to help a stranger. I heard Beth Moore give these guidelines, and I think they are very wise. Don’t help when (a) You simply can’t give or do what’s needed or asked for. (b) your help just won’t help; (c) beyond the boundary is unauthorized danger. Knowing what is dangerous can be tricky, but if you are alone, it probably isn’t a good idea especially if you are a woman. Ultimately, God gives us common sense and He also wants us to listen to His guidance. If you are listening, you will hear Him talking.

God Loves You Anyway

I attended my 20th class reunion last week, and I guess I am waxing nostalgic. I’ve been thinking about the me of twenty years ago compared to me today. Spiritually, I have grown so much, but still realize I have so much more to grow. Twenty years ago, I thought as long as the pastor and my church members didn’t know the real me or what I did, then I was safe. Today, I realize it’s only God that matters. I have heard some people say, "I am so glad they don’t know what I’m thinking." The problem is that God does, but the awesome thing is that He loves us anyway! I don’t like being reprimanded by God, but I have never felt like God didn’t love me. For many years I thought it was more about looks than about substance. In the deep corners of my heart, I realized that God wanted more of me and wanted me to be real with Him. So today, I want to ask you "Are you being real with God?" He knows you better than you know yourself, so you might as well ‘fess up and just accept that you are a dirty, rotten scoundrel. But more importantly, you need to realize that God loves you despite your imperfections. He knows you are a dirty, rotten scoundrel, but He still died to save your soul and He wants you!