Clean

Ephesians 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

Washing of water by the word; and what is the word?

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

Psalms 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

Psalms 119:140 Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it.

Psalms 119: 160  Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth forever.

I think we can best understand how God’s Word can make and keep us clean by way of an illustration. There was an old man who had a grandson who watched him read from his Bible every morning. The grandson wanted so much to be like his grandpa so he too would get his Bible and imitate his grandpa. One morning the grandson told his grandpa that he didn’t understand what he was reading and that he would later forget what he had read. He told him that he felt it wasn’t really doing him any good to keep on reading his Bible. His grandfather then took an old wicker coal basket and told his grandson to go down to the river and bring back a basket of water. The grandson did as he was told and before he could return all the water leaked out of the basket. His grandfather told him he would have to move a little faster; so the grandson did as he was told and ran back as fast as he could but once again the wicker basket was empty. The grandson told his grandfather that it was impossible to carry water in a basket and that he was going to get a bucket. His grandfather said I don’t want a bucket of water, I want a basket of water and then he said son you can do this, just try harder. The grandson knew that it was impossible but to please his grandpa he ran as fast as he could, but the water all leaked out before he got back. The grandson once again told his grandpa it’s useless! So you think it is useless, I want you to look at the basket and tell me what you see. The grandson looked at the basket and for the first time he realized that the basket looked different. Instead of a dirty old wicker coal basket, it was a clean old wicker coal basket. “The grandpa then told his grandson that is what happens when you read your Bible. You might not understand or remember everything but when you read it, it will change you from the inside out. That is what my best friend was told the day he received Jesus Christ as his Savior; he said an older man told him “son read your Bible every day.” Good advice don’t you think?