Therefore, ridding yourselves of all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. James 1:21
Imagine checking in at a hotel only to enter your room and realize nothing is prepared for you. The suitcase of the person who had the room before you is open and strewn about, the room has an odor indicating it has not been cleaned, and the bed has not been made for you as the new guest. Many of us would be frustrated or at least perplexed as to how we could be assigned a room that was clearly not ready. Part of preparing a room for a new guest is taking out what is old to make room for what is new.
This process makes sense when we think about physically preparing a place for a guest, but may not be as obvious for matters of the soul. James pointed out the wickedness in the world is not all external or far from us; it is also something we must be diligent about cleaning out of our souls. Whether the media we consume, the things we view while we scroll, or the thoughts that take root in our minds, we can passively drift from God instead of intentionally moving toward Him. Through the work of the Holy Spirit, we can walk away from these familiar habits and make space for the Word of God to take root and change the way we live from the inside out. This is not something that will passively happen but is possible as we actively preparing space for Christ to dwell in our hearts seeking to become more like Him.
- What are some habits you know open you up to sinful behavior? Why do you hold onto these?
- What would it look like to move toward God in your struggle with sin? What are some areas you need to clear out of filthiness to make space for the Word of God to take root
- Pray and confess to God the things you have been holding onto and repent, committing to walk in His Light.
