Spiritual Flossing

Nº 419

If you want to be Christlike you need to have communion with Christ, and if you want communion with Christ you need to do it on His terms with the channels of grace He’s provided. That means the only way to extraordinary holiness is through ordinary means. - Kevin DeYoung

A retired dentist gave me some sage advice, “Dan, only floss the ones you want to keep.” We all want to have healthy teeth, but it takes consistent care and routine cleansing to keep them strong and useful.

Like teeth, our spiritual lives need basic care and cleansing. One routine practice that provides ongoing spiritual care is spending time in God’s Word. Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long. (Psalm 119:97) We need the truth of God’s Word to help us understand His expectations for our lives.

More than knowing biblical content, our responsibility is to align our lives with that truth. Jesus said, If you love me, you will keep my commandments. (John 14:15).

We all fall short of this lofty ideal and need cleansing. John also wrote, If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:8-9)

Basic spiritual care means knowing God’s truth and living that truth. But when we fall short, trust God’s grace to floss the grime away.

Excelsior,

Dr. Dan Bolin

Author & President