May 30, 2017

Today I cleaned a clean carpet. My favorite kind. It looks great when I’m done. Of course, it looked pretty good before I started. Funny thing with these easy cleanups, the customer will come in after I’ve cleaned and say, “Oh my, what a difference. The colors are so much brighter!” I can’t tell the difference, but I nod and smile.

I wondered if God prefers to forgive and cleanse already fairly righteous people. Personally, I’d rather disciple people who are kind, decent, good-looking and well-to-do. I love having church members like that. I can’t handle too many members who are temperamental and immature, selfish people who take more than they give and don’t treat me kindly.

Thankfully, God is not that way. God sees us as we are and we’re all pretty messed up. There are no easy cleanup jobs in sanctification. It’s only from our earthly perspective that we categorize some as needing super miraculous grace and patience while others only need a minor touch-up. God’s favorite cleaning job is the one needing miraculous grace. That’s the only kind.

Ephesians 2:8-9
“By grace we are saved, through faith…”