I am clean

This summer is being marked by a refreshing and rather timely study of my identity in Christ. My church is going through an online Bible study called “I AM,” and each week of this study highlights one identity point that you and I have full access to in Christ.I have spent years studying my identity in Christ, and yet, I have found that this weak and often forgetful heart needs regular checkups and reminders of these truths. I don’t think any one of us can study truth enough, right? We never reach a suitable end to our pursuit of the Holy One. How could we?“Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable His judgments, and His paths beyond tracing out!” Romans 11:33We could spent 1,000 lifetimes and never uncover the depths of all that He is, and I find that rather encouraging. He is that big. He is that great.So, back to the “I AM” study. Last week, our focus was on being favored in Christ and how His favor on our lives can and will often look different that the world’s definition of favor…but not to miss His favor on our lives because it is for sure there to be found.This week, we took a courageous dive into some deep and perhaps painful waters for many of us. “I am clean” was the focus of our study this week. As we looked at verses such as Romans 3:22-24 and 2 Corinthians 5:17, we were challenged to recognize the lies that we have been believing about ourselves and to replace them with the truth. Because of difficult, painful, and even traumatic pasts that many of us carry, it can be easy for us to see ourselves through the lens of those experiences instead of through the lens of God’s Word. “I am dirty” or “I am unworthy” are stigmas and mantras that many of us have clung to and words by which we have defined ourselves for too long.God speaks a better word over you and me. I am clean. You are clean.Through this study, I came across the lyrics of a song by Natalie Grant called “Clean.” The song has been on repeat while I’ve typed these words sitting at my kitchen table. Sometimes, we need to be reminded of the things that we already know…because maybe like me, you have forgotten. Maybe like me, the lies have become louder than the truth. Maybe like me, you need this truth today. Christ alone reserves the right to define who we are, and He says, “My daughter, in me, you are favored. In me, you are clean.”Clean by Natalie GrantI see shatteredYou see wholeI see brokenBut You see beautifulAnd You're helping me to believeYou're restoring me piece by pieceThere's nothing too dirtyThat You can't make worthyYou wash me in mercyI am cleanThere's nothing too dirtyThat You can't make worthyYou wash me in mercyI am cleanWhat was dead now lives againMy heart's beating, beating inside my chestOh I'm coming alive with joy and destiny'Cause You're restoring me piece by pieceThere's nothing too dirtyThat You can't make worthyYou wash me in mercyI am cleanThere's nothing too dirtyThat You can't make worthyYou wash me in mercyI am cleanWashed in the blood of Your sacrificeYour blood flowed red and made me whiteMy dirty rags are purifiedI am cleanWashed in the blood of Your sacrificeYour blood flowed red and made me whiteMy dirty rags are purifiedI'm clean, I'm cleanWashed in the blood of Your sacrificeYour blood flowed red and made me whiteMy dirty rags are purifiedI'm cleanI am cleanI'm cleanOh You made meYou wash meCleanOh You made me clean