Everybody Likes a Clean House...
As a Qualified Mental Health Professional, I have seen all sorts of people trying to convince the staff of what they are trying to do and failing miserably, yet they keep trying (some of them) until they get what they want. In this profession, it used to be when a patient has reached his/her bottom, they are ready for treatment in order to resume a life of being a sober yet viable portion to society. These days, one can apply for government assistance, be granted the benefits, and therefore never getting to the "bottom" which is necessary for many of those who are dependent on their drug or substance of choice. I have seen men who did not put forth nearly the effort for a job interview as they did to get those unearned benefits...and because of that, "the house" continues to be a mess. But don't be concerned; with those benefits, he/she can purchase a rug to cover it all up. By that, I mean to continue buying the drug of choice until the person ceases to exist. The enemy, the stronger one in this analogy, has done his job (John 10:10 AMP).
Have you ever spoke to someone with a grudge that has been held for so long because it was such a horrific thing that had been done the other person could never find it in his/her heart to forgive them (1 John 1:9 AMP)? Had you questioned their belief in Christ even after the explanation with the grudge or did you think they were justified in having it (1 John 2:12 AMP)? Years were not kind to him/her as they had forgotten important dates like birthdays and anniversaries but if you ask about a specific person or the date that such and such a thing that happened he/she can give you the time down to the minute and what every one had on and what each person said. That anger had taken residence for all of those years in that person's mind and brought friends and family (Matthew 18:21-35 AMP). What sort of spouse would you think this person would be to you? Would you minimize it down to everyone makes mistakes?
Keeping that grudge is not a mistake when you are a born again believer. Accepting Jesus Christ means you have confessed your faults and have accepted His forgiveness of your sins - those committed and those left to commit (the ones you know about and those that you don't). All bases are covered. He was stretched, beaten horribly, and spat upon with his disciples denying Him - and He did it all so that we could have a relationship with the Creator of all. Those sins confessed are as far from Him as the east is from the west. Rest assured you belong to Him. And so now, that old way of doing things had to go. It is nothing like Him (2 Corinthians 5:17 AMP). You must be like your role model. God is good and a good Father; therefore, put away that old man and allow for everything to be anew. That old man is the grudge. That old man is reacting in the way that the world would say is appropriate but God would be displeased. That old man will have you suffering in consequences because you know better.
The Word asks the reader a question: who is stronger than the strong man (Luke 11:14-23 AMP)? Let's paint a picture: About 15-20 years ago, you had a relationship with someone you thought was the perfect person. She was the one! Unfortunately, you had some left over tendencies where you and she got pregnant but you proposed and she said yes. The baby came and you are doing all that a perspective husband can do to make sure she wants for nothing and that baby is well supported. One day when playing with the baby, you look and keep feeling like the baby has none of your features. The feeling bothers you so much, you get a DNA test done. Results come back. Your hunch is confirmed - baby is not yours. Confronting the mother - your intended, it takes some doing but she confesses that it is true. This is it. It's something that cannot be washed away with an apology. When going to work the next day, you tell her the engagement is over. It begins an argument that you aren't going to have but when you get back home at the end of the work day, all of your stuff is destroyed. Your pictures from years ago, keep sakes that you got from relatives that have since past away, are all torn or soaked in water. All of your clothes have been burned, bleached, or cut in little pieces. Taking deep breathes to calm yourself, the idea of calling the police is squashed by allowing your imagination to show how you can get revenge. Shaking that thought from your head, you call the cleaning service and begin to pray. Years later in a church service, the speaker asks about harboring any ill will towards anyone. You check yourself and think you feel fine; only, there has been this anger that has been living in your house for so long, you forgot about it. It makes you think it's a part of your personality. It tells you that its a feeling that gives you an edge, some character. But God reminding you about cleaning your house in that sermon (Luke 11:24-26 AMP). You know exactly what that is. Your answer to God is, "I got this. You have everything else in my life. I can handle this." Now, who is stronger than you? Is it God or that feeling telling you that it is giving you character? What else is it giving? Notice the rest of the verse. Who's stronger now?
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