Today's Devotional

 

 March 23, 2009

                                                                                                                    

Subject:  Sweep Well 

Psalm 96:13 "Before the LORD: for he cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth: he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth."

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In an effort to teach my daughters the requirement to do every task with a sense of perfection, they alternate daily sweeping the kitchen area of the house.  It's not a large area, but they must sweep it really well.  After they have finished, I go behind them with the broom to verify the job that they've done.  If the job is not done well, they are penalized with another day of sweeping.  If they continue in this pattern of poor work for two days, they are penalized with the task for a week.  It's interesting to see over time how much better they've become at getting it right the first time.  

I think that's how we should view the Christian life.  Every task and everything that God has given us to do, should be done with a sense of perfection.  Why?  Because He's coming behind us to check to see how effectively we made use of what He's given us to work with; "the broom" that we swept with.  He's given us "the broom" of relationships.  We should sweep well with them and leave the area clean as we interact with others.  He's given us the "the broom" of material possessions.  We should sweep well with them and ensure that instead of worshipping "the broom" of material possessions, we are simply using them to sweep well the lives that we can touch with their proper use.

The scripture shows that just as I sweep behind my daughters to check how well they have swept, the Lord is coming to judge or check behind us.  Truth is He is doing it now because He wants us to get better at living this Christian life.  He's pulling for us as He teaches us what it takes to do a good job.  

Although I may miss something when I sweep behind my daughters, you can be sure He won't miss anything.  How have you used "your broom" today?  Sweep well.       

Carlen