Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Milford

March 23, 2012

How wonderful and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony! For harmony is as precious as the anointing oil that was poured over Aaron’s head, that ran down his beard and onto the border of his robe. Harmony is as refreshing as the dew from Mount Hermon that falls on the mountains of Zion. And there the LORD has pronounced His blessing, even life everlasting. (King David, Psalm 133)

Anybody out there enjoy cleaning your shower stall? Me neither. At the Willis home, we use Scrub Free® Clean Shower® Daily Shower Cleaner. It prevents soap scum and mildew stains with a fresh, clean scent! (If you don’t believe me just read the bottle.)

Spraying down the stall the other morning I got thinking how just a daily coating of Clean Shower® keeps the tile white and the grout clear and the hard-plastic base from staining. You can never put on too much, but you can put on too little: At the very least the application must be enough so that the liquid begins to run down over itself providing a visible coating.

And, of course, as a lover of Jesus I see Him everywhere, and it got me thinking what a metaphor Clean Shower® is for us as followers of Christ.

So many men and women and boys and girls are seeking after healing, hope, fulfillment, purpose, love, happiness, forgiveness, peace, riches, influence, fame… so many are seeking after so much.  And Jesus offers all of this (and so much more!) to those who will be His disciples and follow Him. But many people are looking for a quicker-fix than is required to have a good, visible “coating” of the Holy Spirit.

Many are content with an occasional visit to church for worship.  Many are content to serve in ways that are fun to them and make them feel good.  Many are content reading just a sentence or two from the Scriptures each day, repeating the Lord’s Prayer, and childhood grace-prayers at mealtime.  Many are content with so very little, and then become disparaging of Christianity.

But the life Christ calls us to needs to be so much more than just a spritzing of God’s grace. The picture King David gives us in Psalm 133 is one of literally dripping with God: Regular participation in Worship because we need to worship God; self-sacrificial service drawing us into intimate communion with the One Who served by being whipped, beaten, and crucified for others; and truly studying the Scriptures, and enjoying the Lord’s presence in lengthy, conversational prayer, and our thanks for food and other provision overflowing in creative expressions of gratitude at home, at work, on the road, wherever we have opportunities to offer grace.

Are you dripping?

Pastor Ben