I've lived on my own, without a roommate, for the better part of the last year.  I've eaten in my kitchen, dining area, living area, and bedroom.  I've kept my clean clothes in a laundry bin on top of the dryer at times.  I've thrown away trash at the end of every week, no matter how many bags stacked up in a corner.  I've truly enjoyed living by myself, and only cleaning the apartment spic and span when I need to.  Well, it's come time to turn another leaf.

I have a new friend living with me.  A good buddy of mine named Ryan has moved into my one bedroom apartment for the duration of the summer.  He's staying in the back half of my living room and his futon doesn't look that comfortable, but until the end of July, when we get a two bedroom, it seems to work out fine.  Anyway, the point of this is that it's a weird changeup to have to consider someone else in how I manage my apartment.  I try and eat in a more consistent spot, in a much cleaner way.  I attempt to remove my clothes from the top of the dryer every day or every other day.  I struggle with taking out the trash when it gets full, but I'm working on it.  Having another person live in my home makes me want to have it looking nice at all times.

This leads me to thinking what condition the "home" that is my heart is in.  There was a time when I was living alone, and the trash was stacked up to the ceiling.  At the age of 14, I offered my heart as a home for Jesus, and have had him living there ever since.  As I look at myself though, I feel as if I'm having him stay on a futon, while I still make a mess around him.  It's a problem that I feel we all suffer from, cleaning up the house we've given to the Lord.  Let's commit to cleaning up what's already there, and keeping the door shut to the mess that's outside, opening it only for what is good and right.

Bob