Spiritual Decluttering

“So Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him,

‘Put away the foreign gods that are among you

and purify yourselves

and change your garments.’”
Genesis 35:2

Let’s break down Jacob’s instructions. First, put away the foreign gods that are among you. Decluttering has to be one of the top New Year’s Resolutions. But sometimes we’re more concerned with the clutter we can see, than the clutter we can’t see. God wants to declutter and restore our hearts. Only He knows how to bring true order and beauty, so that we can bless Him and be a blessing to others. Mark 12:30 says,

“And you shall love the Lord your God

with all your heart

and with all your soul

and with all your mind

and with all your strength.’

God doesn’t want part of our heart – it’s all or nothing. Anything short of that is dangerous for us. Let’s ask God to show us anything that we have allowed to crowd out the good things He has for us. Let’s put away those idols in our hearts, so that they are no longer among us. He will not share His glory with another.

Next Jacob says to purify yourselves and change your garments. Cleanliness is important, but spiritual cleanliness is crucial. These final two instructions give such a picture of salvation. Only Christ’s work on the cross could purchase our purification; only He can change our spiritual garments of filthy rags and replace them with His robe of righteousness.

When we worship God alone, we have the freedom and joy to serve only Him; to please only Him. What we worship, we will serve. What we worship, we will be bound to. Lord, let it be You!