How Clean Are You—Really?
Do you ever stop and ask yourself: Do I feel clean?
Not just outwardly—but deep down, in your soul?
For many of us, the feeling of spiritual cleanness is tied to behavior. When we’re “doing well”—praying, avoiding sin, helping others—we feel good, maybe even righteous. But that kind of cleanness is temporary. Sooner or later, we mess up. We get angry. We get selfish. We fall short. And just like that, the clean feeling fades.
Others take a more theological view. They know—on an intellectual level—that they’re clean because of what Jesus did on the cross. His death paid for their sin, so they’re positionally righteous before God. And that’s absolutely true. But knowing you’re clean in theory doesn’t always make you feel clean in practice.
Even in Jesus’ day, people wrestled with this. The Pharisees obsessed over staying outwardly pure. They avoided anything—or anyone—that might defile them. But Jesus called them out. He said, “It’s not what goes into you that makes you unclean—it’s w...
Are You a Good Listener?
Are you a good listener? ... How do you know for sure?
Jesus said, "Consider carefully what you hear. With the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and even more.” (Mark 4:24). This is a strong statement, reminding us that as we evaluate others by what they say, we too will be evaluated—by God, in an even deeper way.
This challenges me to listen with grace. I don’t want to judge or jump to conclusions; instead, I want to believe the best about the person speaking. I want to apply faith and God’s grace to what I hear, offering kindness to the one sharing their message. Why? Because that’s how I want others to listen to me—and more importantly, it’s the kind of listening God blesses.
James 1:19 encourages us to be “quick to listen, slow to speak.” This means truly processing what we hear before reacting, offering support over judgment, and receiving what’s good to put it into practice. God promises to bless this kind of listening; it reflects His wisdom (Matthew 7:24).
Imagine...
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