"Choose you this day whom ye will serve
...but as for me and my house,
we will serve the LORD." - Joshua 24:15

WE WILL SERVE THE LORD...WITH CLEAN LIVES.

It's amazing how dirty a swimming pool can get in just a few short days.

I checked the "test strip" - a small strip that records the ph, alkalinity and chlorine levels (basically, how clean or dirty the pool is) The ph and alkalinity was off and the chlorine was very low. That explains why algae is growing like wild weeds in our pool!

So, less than an hour later, I opened several containers of chemicals and broadcasted them across the pool in our backyard. Because it's been a while since we used the pool it is going to require quite a bit of work and chemicals to clean up the mess before it can be used again.

And so, I am calling upon a powerful, super cleansing filth remover to get the job done.

And it never fails to clean up the pool.

But, getting the pool clean is just the beginning. It doesn't stop there. Pool maintenance is a must. You see, more dirt and grime and debris and algae seem to find their way into the pool. Things that just don't belong there somehow end up where they shouldn't be.

The only way to keep them from making a mess of the pool is to daily maintain it by vacuuming up the debris and adding the cleansing power of chlorine. A few times a week it is needful to "shock" the pool by adding some highly concentrated chlorine.  To really keep it clean and sparkling, you've got to work at it...

...but it sure is enjoyable when it's clean!

You know, as I thought about our pool tonight, it came to me...

...the Christian life is a lot like a swimming pool. If we're not careful, then it doesn't take long to get it dirty. Thankfully, if we find our lives dirty with sin, we can call upon a powerful, super cleansing filth remover in Jesus Christ.

And He never fails to get the job done.

But Jesus doesn't want us to stop there. He doesn't just want to clean up our "pool" only to let it get dirty over and over again. No sir, Jesus wants us to keep our lives clean and sparkling. The Lord doesn't want dirt and grime and debris and spiritual algae growing in our lives. Who wants to swim in a dirty pool, anyway?

And so, He teaches us how we can keep things that don't belong in our lives away from us. It's called "pool" - sorry - "life" maintenance. See, the only way to keep a mess from forming in our lives is to daily "vacuum" up all of the debris and add the cleansing power of prayer and the Word of God. That's why our "quiet time" with God is so important each day. And, of course, a few times a week it is needful to go to church and fellowship with other believers. To really keep our lives clean, we've got to work at it...

...but the Christian life sure is enjoyable when it's clean!

What would a "test strip" reveal about your life? Any dirt that shouldn't be there? Or, perhaps your waters are clean and sparkling today? Either way, now is a great time to take a swim in the Word of God and pray to the Lord Jesus. It will give you strength to get through whatever lies ahead, it will bring joy and peace to your life...

...and it will keep your pool clean today!

Have a "Wonderful DAY in Christ,"
Jimmy D. Brown
\o/ Praise Jesus!