Made Clean by the Word
His Word doesn't just surface-wash us; it soaks through every fiber of our being, making us truly clean.
Devotional Credit: Inspired by In Christ by E. Stanley Jones
Photo Credit: Unsplash
Today’s reflection reminds me how radically Jesus reshaped the very fabric of reality.
E. Stanley Jones unfolds the breathtaking work of Christ—not merely cleansing individual hearts, but cleansing the meanings of life itself.
Jesus purified humanity’s entire understanding:
He revealed God as a loving Father, not a distant or questionable deity.
He redefined the Messiah not as a conqueror for one nation, but as a Savior for all.
He turned suffering from a punishment into a platform for divine love.
He transformed death itself from decay into resurrection life.
He reimagined heaven not as sensual indulgence but as spiritual fellowship.
He converted love from possessive "eros" to selfless "agape."
He sanctified the material world as a future scene for the fullness of His kingdom.
Jesus didn't just clean outward things — He touched everything and made it new.
And yet, Jones notes, even the disciples who heard Jesus' cleansing word were still a paradox. Consciously they were clean, but subconsciously old patterns of fear, pride, ambition, and distrust surfaced. Their potential was perfect in Christ's cleanness, but practically, they often stepped out of that cleanness into themselves.
What a loving reminder: in Christ, we are fully clean, yet we are invited daily to abide consciously in His life, letting His cleansing Word anchor both our conscious and subconscious selves.
Personalized Journal Entry – Voice of the Holy Spirit Through Scripture
You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. You are washed, you are sanctified, you are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by My Spirit. Though the old ways once held sway in your mind, now you are being renewed in the spirit of your mind, putting on the new self, created after My likeness in true righteousness and holiness.
My Word is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, discerning the thoughts and intentions of your heart. I sanctify you by truth; My Word is truth. Remain in Me, and My words remain in you. As you behold Me, you are being transformed from one degree of glory to another, by My Spirit.
Therefore, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed My Spirit dwells in you. And if you live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. I have cleansed you; I have made you Mine. Remain in My love.
(Scripture references: John 15:3; 1 Corinthians 6:11; Ephesians 4:23–24; Hebrews 4:12; John 17:17; John 15:7; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Galatians 5:16; Romans 8:9; Galatians 5:25)
Real-Life Analogy
Imagine scrubbing a stained shirt with the best cleaner available. At first glance, it looks spotless — shining bright and clean. But over time, hidden residue deep within the fabric may rise back to the surface unless it is thoroughly soaked and rinsed. Our lives can feel like that shirt. Christ has made us clean, absolutely. Yet day-to-day living sometimes stirs up old fears, ambitions, or patterns that were buried deep. His Word doesn’t just surface-wash us — it soaks through every layer until even the hidden places sparkle with His light.
Prayer of Confidence
Father, I praise You that You have spoken Your cleansing Word over me and made me new in Christ. I rest in the reality that I am already clean, and I rejoice that even when old patterns try to surface, Your life within me remains pure and victorious. Thank You that I do not live by my own efforts to stay clean, but by abiding in Your Word and Your Spirit. I trust You to continue revealing any hidden places and lovingly washing them with the water of Your truth. Today, I live conscious of Your complete and enduring work in me.