By Melissa McLaughlin
The sun blazed on my back. Drops of sweat trickled down my face, and dirt clung to my arms like a wet shirt. After digging in the soil to plant flowers and spread mulch, my sweat mixed with the earth, forming a special mud glaze that stuck fast to my skin.
I stepped back to enjoy the view. Bright yellow and pink Lantana blooms grinned at me, highlighted by a backdrop of rich chocolate mulch. My heart blossomed at the sight of this lovely backyard beauty.
As I gazed, my eyes began stinging with grime and sweat. I reached toward my face to wipe my eyes and noticed brown grit caked on my hands. I hurried inside to wash up.
Standing at the sink, the cool water splashed over my hands. I squirted liquid soap and rubbed. The berry-scented soap smelled sweet. Suds foamed as I scrubbed my fingers, the backs of my hands, and arms. I leaned over to immerse myself in the refreshing water.
Having fully rinsed, I reached for a towel to dry off. Somehow, my arms felt lighter. I grabbed a wet washcloth to wipe my face.
All traces of sweat and dirt were completely gone. As if I had never touched the flower beds. I felt like a new person. Bright, shining, and revived. What a gift to be clean.
The Gift of Being Clean in Christ
This everyday task of washing caused me to wonder at the soul-cleansing offered by our Savior. When we ponder the sin that clings to us from our selfish desires, from the world, and from the devil, it is no wonder the Bible is replete with verses about repentance and purifying.
Here are a few of my favorites. May God’s Spirit and word wash over you and revive your soul as you read.
1 Corinthians 6:11 ESV – And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
Titus 3:5 ESV – He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit.
1 John 1:7 ESV – But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
1 John 1:9 ESV – If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Psalm 51:1-2, 7, 10-12 ESV – Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin…
Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow…
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.
There’s nothing like the feeling of being clean. What verses help you remember that the blood of Jesus washes us clean? May we rejoice anew at this most amazing gift!
Invitation for my readers:
Would you like to draw closer to Christ and experience the cleansing of His Word? Are you looking for a fresh way to read the Bible? Or maybe you’d like to be reminded of Jesus woven throughout the Scriptures.
The Whole Bible Devotional: Seeing Jesus in Every Book of the Bible was written for you!
Available at Amazon, CLC Publications, Barnes and Noble, and other retailers.
Each book comes with a free downloadable Small Group Study Guide. This is a great choice for your small group, Bible study, or Sunday School class!
Also Available on YouVersion:
Portions of The Whole Bible Devotional are also available for free on the YouVersion Bible App! Grab a friend and invite them to read with you! May the Bible come alive as you read and pray.
- Click here for “Praying From the Gospels“ YouVersion 4-day Bible plan.
- Click here for “Praying Words of Wisdom From the Bible“ YouVersion 5-day Bible plan.
- Click here for “Praying From Paul’s Letters” YouVersion 13-day Bible plan.
I hope you’ll check it out and be blessed!
Amen. I’m thankful to be washed clean by Him. Titus 3:5 speaks to me. Have a blessed day dear friend! 🙂
What a blessing to be cleansed by Christ! God bless you, dear friend!
“The Gift of Being Clean in Christ” <The verses you used were wonderful! Thank you for sharing them.
Thank you for reading and sharing your encouragement, Chebba. What a blessing to be clean in Christ!
It is so refreshing to be washed. It is even more refreshing when it concert our sin.
And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
I love the verses you shared.
Thank you for reading and sharing your insights. What a blessing to be washed. And even greater to be washed clean of our sin through Christ. God bless you!
I am so thankful for Christ and the cleansing sacrifice of His love.
Amen, Priscilla! What a blessing to be cleansed by Christ. May we always remember the great cost of His love.
God bless you for this, Melissa. Just praying through the verses here. Thank you Jesus. Holy Spirit let this Word do your work. Amen.
Joining you in prayer. Holy Spirit, let this Word work in me, too. God bless you, Mike!
When Christ washing away the dirt of our sins, we are so much lighter. This is a very inspiring message Melissa. Thank you
Yes, indeed, Yvonne! We can actually feel the lightness, as we think of Christ lifting away our sin. We are blessed!
It’s amazing that I can be filthy spiritually, no matter how much I try to clean up, yet when I surrender to Jesus, he makes me perfectly clean, a new creation. What an excellent analogy you use! Thank you!!
Such an amazing thought, Jessica! No matter how hard we scrub our souls, we cannot wash away our sin. It’s only through our surrender and receiving His gift. In Christ we are clean. What a blessing!
I love this so much! How wonderful to know we are washed by the blood of the Lamb!
And old hymn, “Cleanse Me”, comes to mind.
I love that, Debbie! Thank you for sharing your thoughts and insights! Being clean is such a wonderful gift. And being washed by the blood of the Lamb cleanses us from the inside out. Forever clean!
Beautiful analogy. I celebrate the cleansing available to us from Jesus Christ. I’ve always loved Titus 3:5. And your article reminded me of something I heard a speaker say years ago when people he shared the gospel with said they needed to clean up their lives before they came to Christ. And the speaker always responded with this analogy. If you are outside and get dirty, would you clean up to take a bath? It’s the same way with Jesus, you come to Him as you are and He does the cleansing.
I love that, Karen! Thank you for sharing that little golden nugget. We run to Jesus to BE clean! God bless you and thank you for your living out your beautiful faith.