I like make up, well I like it on other people and I enjoy applying it. However, I hardly ever wear it as I cannot be fussed. One of my aunties bought me a foundation brush two years ago , my first ever! It was great, new and an answer to my prayer (ladies you get what I mean, no more foundation on hands *dances*). So I probably only wear my make up once a week to church right and that's when I'm given the opportunity to use this foundation brush of mine. However because I only wear it once a week I sometimes forget to wash the brush after and then another Sunday comes and I have a clogged up brush. Euw. I must say I've sinned at times and used it without washing it *receivesvirtualsideeyefrommakeupartists*. After I realised what this was doing to my skin I think I just stopped using the brush entirely and started using my foam pads instead. BUT I was going back to this whole era of foundation on my fingers which I find quite annoying. Hence, I retreated back to the use of my foundation brush. Oh for those who don't know what that is, a foundation brush is the tool used to apply foundation to ones skin-mini beauty lesson lol.
Ok so here's my story. As I was washing the foundation brush I realised that it needed more washing and rinsing than usual. I kept adding soap, warm water and rinsing it off only to still see traces of old foundation on the brush. It was actually quite surprising but I kept going at it as I needed it really clean. Then my love spoke and I wanted to faint. No like seriously. Here's what He said 'the less time you spend with me, the more you get clogged up with the world and the more of my word you'll need to wash with in order to get clean and the longer the process will take'. I was like BOOM! I've got my word! HELLOO!! Repeté s'il vous plait! (Did I get that right?)
No but did anybody just read what I wrote! BOOM!!
It's SOOO true guys. The more time we spend away, the more we'd become empty and be filled with the wrong thing. We are vessels, a canvas, space which needs to be filled-either with good or bad. Let's not fill ourselves with the wrong thing!
Personally, what I heard was absolutely amazing because I had become slightly distant. I got bored or shall I say too familiar with the presence of God. I almost believed that I'd attained a certain level (lol, yh right), and didn't need things that other people did. Halt! Error!
God's word says " Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. (John 15:4, 5 ESV)".
What's the keyword here please? 'Abide, abide, abide'. It's paramount, essential, a necessity...more so an act of commitment.
Let's look at all of this from a different angle. When I got the word, what caught my attention was 'washing'. The word washing can be defined 'to make clean'. Whilst thinking of that, this scripture came to mind "Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself." (Ephesians 5:25-28 ESV). I want to scream but I'll compose myself. One of the responsibilities of a husband as stated in this scripture is to love like Christ. What did Christ do? Gave His life in exchange for mine and therefore cleansed me as He IS the word. This is done constantly through fellowship with Him and worship to Him. Therefore, my husband has been given a great responsibility of honour to share the word with me thereby washing me and helping me to get ready to meet our Lord Jesus Christ. That in itself has knocked me over. I think by hearing what God had to say and reading this scripture the role of a husband has definitely become so much clearer to me. Honestly, I heard a preacher say one day that it's his responsibility and duty as a husband to love his wife like Christ and to make her get ready to meet with Him. I didn't get it but I definitely do now.
Another way to interpret all of this is from the scripture that says, "So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image." (2 Corinthians 3:18 NLT). This verse is heavy but I will concentrate on the latter part that says and "The Lord-who is the Spirit-makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image." Our relationship with God is absolutely essential to our well being, development and finally our transformation. The more we abide, by fellowship, reading and meditation of the word, worship to our God, the display of love to fellow believers and unbelievers the more we exact the characteristics of who we are trying to be like-Christ.
That's the primary message that God was trying to hone down on me. He was basically saying that you either get filled with me or get filled with filth. Think about it this way if you choose to continue in a career you'd eventually reach the highest peak, but if you dibble and dabble from one job to the other you may never attain such heights. It's the same principle!
One more scripture. The famous Romans 12:2. I'm almost tempted not to quote the scripture because most of us know it. Most of us are able to write a sermon on this scripture but many of us, because of knowledge, do not walk in wisdom of this particular scripture.
"Don’t copy the behaviour and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect." (Romans 12:2 NLT)
Keywords: behaviour, world, transform, think, God's will. We are evidently living in this world. It's almost difficult to be a Christian due to the concepts, mindsets and beliefs presented to us every single day. But, I love God because even in this predicament he's faithful enough to provide a way of escape. How does he do this? He simply encourages us to abide in him and allow Him to transform us into a new person by changing the way we think! Boom! It's a simple thing but if like me you've gone/going through this you'd appreciate it's difficulties.
Let me say this, it's not that we are not saved, it's not that we are not one spirit with Christ, it's not that we aren't in a relationship with Him; it's the fact that we chose not to walk in a manner worthy of the calling. It's the fact that we chose not to walk in a renewed mind and DAILY make the right choices to bring us to him.
My plea is not that you read this and be in awe but rather that you'd make a conscious decision to spend time with God and let His word transform you into the person He desires you to be.
Be filled with the word and not the world....and "May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer." (Psalms 19:14 NLT)
