Cleanliness in the Bible

What is Cleanliness in the Bible?

Cleanliness is Next to Godliness Quote

Welcome to our Christianity Oasis Virtuous Woman study program. This is our SON-sational Cleanliness in the Bible trek for Truth taking an in-depth look into the extremely elusive, very important and at times misunderstood, Cleanliness is Next to Godliness Quote. The absolutely be-YOU-tiful Cleanliness in the Bible message will truly bring forth a smile to the lips and heart while cleansing the soul.

Welcome back!

Cleanliness in the Bible Verses
How to Get Next to Godliness

You clean and clean and the dust keeps on building up, the dishes keep on getting dirty, the clothes keep on needing washed, the floor keeps on needing mopped, the toilet keeps on needing scrubbed, the windows keep on getting fingerprints ... Does it ever end? No. It takes routine maintenance to live in a clean environment.

Attention Evil ... Go Away!

If only it were that easy, huh? Remember I told you that the more virtuous you become, the more heat the enemy will put on you because he knows he's losing the battle for your soul to God? Take a look at what Jesus said:

Guess what ... You're the house according to this scripture . So you have to really be on your toes because evil spirits see that you've tidied up the place and baby, they wanna come and party there. Remember what Paul said, when he would try and do good, evil would come calling.

Meaning of Cleanliness in the Bible
Cleanliness is next to Godliness Quote

So, you may be saying to yourself, "I certainly don't want to end up in a worse state than I was in the first place." Dear friend, that's only if you allow the evil and it's friends back in.

Peter reiterates what Jesus said:

It's nothing new. You're not the lone ranger and it's not only happening to you. It happens to everyone. Temptation is something you have to deal with, every day. Just like cleaning isn't just for springtime, it's a daily duty ... And it's also our duty to help others who are going through the same trials and tribulation!

Cleanliness is next to Godliness ... Why do you suppose they say that? Well, let's compare clean and dirty to figure it out. Usually once something first starts to get dirty, it's easier to procrastinate about cleaning it up, and you just tend to let it go until it gets out of hand, and then, when you absolutely can't stand it anymore, you tackle the clean up ... And you hate it, and it makes you crabby, and you get a long face and a poor attitude ... Does that sound godly to you?

Cleanliness in the Bible Tips
Cleanliness is Next to Godliness Quote

Now, when something is clean, how do you feel? Organized and happy, and comfortable ... That sounds more like a godly attitude. Remember this:

How about another comparison ... When things are dirty, destructive things can grow where you can't see. When things are kept clean, you prevent destructive things from growing. Are you correlating this with dirty = evil and clean = virtue?

Take Out the Trash

What happens when bugs get into a bag of flour inside your cabinet? They spread to anything else they can. Do you pour out the infested products and try and pick out all the little bugs so that you can keep the flour? Of course not! Those bugs most probably laid eggs and ... Yuk! You have to throw out the entire bag. Now apply this analogy to an old habit. You can't go on buying "COSMOPOLITAN" magazines and say, I'm just going to read the righteous articles in them.

Every time you pick up the magazine, you're tempting yourself. Really now, the photograph on the cover is against everything you're trying to put into practice in your renewed life, how can anything in a magazine like that possibly represent Jesus Christ and the lifestyle that you're trying to portray as virtuous to other women who observe you? Take inventory of your life and get rid of the trash.

Old attitudes that aren't virtuous are the same way. It only takes one to slowly infest all your good virtues. Remember, it isn't necessary to hold on to any old 'ingredients' just in case you might need them later ... You won't. You may have spent a lot of time and money on them, but they're worthless. Don't give them away to anybody either. You don't want to pass on things that will be a hinder to any one else's virtue, right? Don't claim them as a loss on your income tax return. Getting rid of them is actually the biggest gain you can imagine. Show your Lord that you want to be rid of them and you don't expect anything in return. It isn't a sacrifice either ... Sacrificing something is giving up something that has value ... Your time, your effort, your devotion ... These things are sacrifice!

You're purging yourself of the trash and waste that you've spent a lifetime collecting. That is what the Cleanliness is next to Godliness quote is requiring of us. Think about what you want, not what you don't want, and you will become what you think. Believe that you can, and it will happen even faster and easier. Remember, belief is a powerful thing. Why stop at your cabinets ... Clean out your closets too!

Purification and Cleanliness in the Bible
Cleanliness is Next to Godliness Quote

I love analogies and Cleanliness is next to Godliness quote is a great one, because you just never know when someone's gonna relate to it, and it can change their whole life! Let's take a look at another one that relates to how important it is to rid your life of every possible obstacle you can. Let's say you spill a cup of milk and some of it runs underneath the refrigerator. You clean up all you can see, and try and push your sponge underneath the bottom grill of the fridge as far as you can, until you can't see any more milk. But alas, there is still milk under there, and after a few days of summer heat, it sours, and it makes a big stink in your kitchen.

Now, liken this to your virtue. Let's say there is a particular thing that you know is not virtuous, but you're having a little trouble dealing with giving it up ... Completely. Maybe it's something that doesn't affect anyone else, so perhaps whispers tell you that it's not really hurting anyone ... Or maybe they even whisper not to think about it, and as long as you don't, you feel like you're not guilty. Maybe you've sort of scheduled to correct that virtue at a later date ... So you can squeeze a few more times of practicing it, and kind of wean yourself off of it. My friend, that IS procrastination. Don't get me wrong, if you're sincerely trying your hardest, your Lord knows your heart and He's not going to forsake you because you don't become 100% virtuous right this minute.

I know it's hard, but I urge you to try harder, and you'll be so happy you did. The feeling of success is so much greater than the unfulfilling feeling of whatever your vice is, that you're just prolonging the agony of not being all you can be by your own will. Don't run from facing your faults. You won't go through any depression or withdrawal by acting virtuous instead of unscrupulous ... And you don't have to go through any kind of therapy or detox program to stop being un-virtuous. Just remember the Cleanliness is next to Godliness quote and you will make your own self proud of you! Remember:

Your deeds speak for themselves. In the words of Matthew Henry:

Holy Cleanliness in the Bible
Cleanliness is Next to Godliness Quote

You are becoming a new person, so you must live a new way. Look ahead.

Clean ... Inside and Out

There is a story about a Pharisee that was surprised at Jesus because He didn't wash His hands before eating, but Jesus said:

A few moments ago, we studied that old saying, Cleanliness is next to godliness. I do believe that cleanliness is so very important, but my friend, if I had to choose between a clean home and a clean soul, I'd choose the clean soul any old day. If I had to choose between a clean body and a clean soul, I'd gladly look like the Wreck of the Hesperus to the world so that my soul could look clean to my Lord.

You can't judge anyone's soul by the way they look outwardly. There are many people in the world that may appear immaculate physically, but if you could peer into the portal of their soul, you'd be quite surprised. Keep your priorities straight, and always know that God is your only Judge. He knows your heart. If you ever need to spend time with your Father, and it means the postponing of doing the dishes or vacuuming the carpet, Choose Him! Those other things will always wait.

Tidy up your inside. Your soul first. Then the physical cleaning that you need to do will be a pleasure even, because you'll know you did the right thing. Then kick on some God music, too. It's a great inspiration and it will help clean your soul, while you clean your house. Starting now.

Cleanliness in the Bible Advice
Cleanliness is Next to Godliness Quote About Virtue

You may have noticed that I've mentioned several times that becoming a virtuous woman is a slow process and to be patient, and so on. This is true for most people, but don't get me wrong, that is not to say that you can't wake up tomorrow and be as virtuous as could be for the rest of your life. It's a choice. It's a lifestyle. For some it doesn't take as long as others, but that certainly doesn't mean that one is a success and one is a failure. Any effort you make toward being virtuous is vital to your goal and an inspiration for you to set higher goals all the time. I'll quote Winston Churchill on this one ... Never, never, never ... Never give up.

Here is a list of just some things that prevent people from being virtuous. If you possess any of them, you know what to do. If there are things not included on this list that you suspect should be done away with, add them to the list, don't hesitate to say good riddance to them. God will reward you with something better.

Cleanliness in the Bible Recipe
Cleanliness is Next to Godliness Quote

Once again, remind yourself that practicing the cleanliness is next to Godliness way of life is a never ending process. As you know, from doing the dishes, taking out the trash, doing the laundry, dusting the furniture, vacuuming the carpet, mopping the floor, weeding the garden, and many other things, you have to keep up with it regularly or things will get out of hand.

All it Takes is a Little Gumption

I can't stress to you enough that you have to roll up your sleeves and get into the corners when you clean. It's about getting the grime under the stove. It's about cleaning the toe jam out from your feet. It's about getting the wax out of your ears. It's about blowing your nose and getting the boogers that are left behind. It's about washing the brown "stuff" out of the bottom of the trash can. It's about cleaning the cobwebs in the corners. It's about wiping the dust on the ceiling fan blades. It's about cleaning the lint screen in the washer and the clothes dryer. It's about scrubbing off the burnt on gunk in the roasting pan.

It's about keeping the mildew off the shower curtain. Of course these are all analogies for those things in that list above. You can live without taking care of these things for a little while, but sooner or later, they cause a stink, or an eyesore, and having good ethics, good morals, good virtues ... A little gumption, will keep your life from smelling of repugnance too. What is gumption? Gumption is common sense, initiative, guts, nerve, bravery, persistence etc. Don't put things off until tomorrow. Remember that little book that I told you about called 99 Annoying Attributes of God? I'm reminded of another page that says: "God is annoying because He thinks delayed obedience is disobedience." Don't procrastinate!

Study of Cleanliness in the Bible
Cleanliness is Next to Godliness Quote

A recipe is not something that you memorize the first time you prepare it. When you feel like you have forgotten something, refresh your memory. Read the recipe again. And again and again whenever you feel it is necessary. You will know. You will feel it. Soon it will become firsthand to your conscious and subconscious mind and it will become easier to prepare with each passing day. Don't forget, your cookbook is the Bible. There are plenty of good recipes inside that you should try ... And share!

God's Grace is Fantastic!

Just as in preparing any recipe, you will have to stop and clean up a spill or two as you go. You may have to wash a dish here and there, but that doesn't stop you from completing your preparation of the recipe. Don't let spills, or any kind of setbacks get the best of you. Clean it up, and keep on going! Ever heard of that cleaning spray called Fantastic? You could say that God's Grace is fantastic ... It cleans away your sins and leaves you shining. Never forget to thank Him for His abundant Grace and the generosity with which He gives it to us.

A last reminder about the cleanliness is next to Godliness quote ... Determination will be your best friend in preparing the Cleanliness in the Bible ingredients. You won't need an apron. You won't need a chef's hat. You won't need pots and pans. You won't need a stove or an oven or a crock pot or a microwave or a bar-b-cue pit. Your hunger to serve the Lord, is all you need to get started on your own recipe for getting next to Godliness.

God's Grace be with you!

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Christianity Oasis

There is a force out there that is attempting to overtake us all; it is Satan. There is another force that is protecting us from him; it is the Holy Spirit. It is a battle for souls. This battle is called Spiritual Warfare, and like it or not, you are right in the middle of it.

How to Prepare for Spiritual Warfare