Do You Clean the House Before the Maid Gets There?

CURRENT TEACHING SERIES 40 Days of Love

Do You Clean the House Before the Maid Gets There? By Rick Warren — Jul 1, 2015 “God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.” (Romans 5:8 NLT, second edition) Everything that Jesus did for you he did out of love. The Bible says that God made you to love you. The only reason you’re alive is because you were made to be loved by God. God didn’t just say he loved you; he showed it. The Bible says, “God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners” (Romans 5:8 NLT, second edition). It whilesays we were still sinners. Before you even knew God, before you even knew you needed God in your life, Jesus died for you. There’s a myth that says you’ve got to clean up your act before you can come to God: “I’ve got to get it all together. There are a few things I’ve got to get right in my life first, and then I’ll go to God.” It’s like when we brush our teeth before we go to the dentist to have a teeth cleaning or when we wash the dishes before we put them in the dishwasher or when we pick up the house before the maid gets there! God says, “No, no! You don’t have to clean up your act. Just bring it all to me. Bring me all your problems. I have all the answers. Come as you are.” The Bible says, “You will be saved, if you honestly say, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and if you believe with all your heart that God raised him from death. God will accept you and save you, if you truly believe this and tell it to others” (Romans 10:9-10 CEV). God is not asking you to make a promise you cannot keep. God is asking you to believe a promise that only he can keep. PLAY today’s audio teaching from Pastor Rick >> Talk It Over What are the things you’ve been trying to clean up before you approach God?https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjEpB2ikkuE How do you think it makes God feel to be rejected by his creation? What does it mean to you that God accepts you just as you are? Today’s Scripture “Cease striving and know that I am God...” (Psalm 46:10, NASB) SHARE WITH YOUR FRIENDS God is at Work In the natural, it’s so easy to try to figure everything out on our own and try to see how we can make things happen. We want to “help” God out, so to speak. But so often, the things we want to see changed in our lives are beyond our control anyway. God is saying today, “Stop worrying. Stop stressing out. Give Me your cares and concerns, and I will take care of you.” Today’s Scripture is a great one to pray every day and meditate on in times of uncertainty. Rest and know that He is God. Know that He has your best interest at heart, and He is working behind the scenes on your behalf today and every day. A Prayer for Today “God, today I give You my worries and concerns. I trust that You are working behind the scenes on my behalf. Show me Your love and grace today as put my complete trust in You in Jesus’ name. Amen.”