Time For a Good Spring Cleaning?

It’s the first day of Spring, a great time to open the windows and let the cool, refreshing air in. Many of us embrace this season as a good opportunity to do some deep, thorough “Spring cleaning.” That’s great, but take a moment to think beyond your house or apartment. What about the atmosphere of your home? Your marriage? Your work ethic? Your example before others? Is it time for a good Spring cleaning?

To get us thinking about the issues that matter most of all…

What sort of clutter has built up?

“A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed… some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up with it and choked it… they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature.” (Luke 8:5, 7, 14)

Is your garbage disposal working?

Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. (James 1:21)

Are your mirrors clean?

Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. (James 1:22-25)

How’s the air quality?

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:4-7)

Are you keeping an eye on your filter?

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. (Philippians 4:8)

Does your alarm system work?

The prudent sees danger and hides himself,
but the simple go on and suffer for it. (Proverbs 22:3)

What should have been thrown away a long time ago?

Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not
inherit the kingdom of God. (Galatians 5:19-21)

How’s the laundry coming?

Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. (Colossians 3:12-15)

Have all the necessary locks been installed?

But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. (Ephesians 5:3-4)

Is the source of your refreshment secure and pure?

Keep your heart with all vigilance,
for from it flow the springs of life. (Proverbs 4:23)

How’s the foundation?

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” (Matthew 7:24-27)

Maybe your literal To-Do list is in pretty good shape. That’s great! What about the things that matter most of all? Is it time for a good Spring cleaning?