Clean Counters

This week, I've been meditating on what exactly it means to be sanctified by Christ. What stuck out to me is an image from the lyrics of Jesus Paid It All: SIN HAD LEFT A CRIMSON STAIN, HE WASHED ME WHITE AS SNOW.

I feel like I've sung this a thousand times before this summer and just accepted it, like it was no big deal. But as I thought about this image, it made me think back to the service we did this summer and the love that we are called to live out here at home. For my Barneys, do you remember how often we had to clean? After every meal, every night, and as needed. We cleaned those boats so they could be a welcoming and inviting place for all. We worked hard, long hours not just so campers could hang out but so the Spirit could dwell. But, time and time again, those boats got wrecked, even and especially when we didn't expect it- usually right after we finished cleaning them. Those counters that we cleaned spotless, those floors we swept and mopped, found a way to dirty themselves up again seconds after we looked away.
When a camper stepped forward and apologized, I would say, "hey man, don't worry about it! I'll take care of it" but on the inside frustration began to build as more things like that happened.

This week, I've been checking myself a lot in those moments and fixing my eyes on Christ's example. I think of His relationship with Peter and how Peter denied Him three times. When Christ looked across that courtyard and locked eyes with Peter as the rooster crowed, shame and guilt formed in Peter's heart... but I don't think Jesus looked at him in condemnation. I think when they locked eyes, Jesus thought," Hey man, don't worry about. I'll take care of it." And as he thought that, he followed up by dying on the cross even while Peter was still dwelling in his self-inflected condemnation.
Like Peter, like those houseboats, we find a way to dirty ourselves up, even and almost especially right after we've already been sanctified. If it was up to us, we would clean the messes but roll our eyes as we did because the "as needed" cleaning can be so tedious.
I can't even imagine how much more of a mess I am for Christ to clean, and yet, I know when I am washed as white as snow, He does it willingly and He does it lovingly. Despite how often I make a mess of myself [which, to be honest, is like a thousand times a day], He doesn't get frustrated or angry with me. He doesn't roll His eyes like I would. He just says, "Hey man, don't worry about. I've taken care of it."

Philippians 2:6 says "Your attitude should be that of Christ Jesus".

"Where you feel you have stooped low to serve others, remember that Christ has stooped lower."
For as long as I've been home, the feeling of being a new creature in an old, familiar place hasn't left and I really hope it won't because although His Kingdom is not from this world(meaning we aren't of this world), it is FOR this world and so we should be too. Allow yourself to be broken and vulnerable, so you maybe wiped clean and sanctified as needed. In doing this you make yourself an inviting and welcoming person for all. In doing this we attract people to Christ and allow the Spirit dwell in us.

I love you and miss you all! You are prayed for and thought of daily. If you have any prayer requests, send 'em over :) I hope all is well