Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work. (2 Tim. 2:21)
Expanded Passage: 2 Timothy 2:20-21
When I was a child, I remember dreading the day before a visitor arrived. The visitor’s arrival was an eagerly anticipated event, but the frenetic house-cleaning preceding it was not. On these occasions, my siblings and I would be hounded to clear away the clutter—random school supplies, askew shoes and jackets, and stray belongings.
The goal of this cleaning frenzy was to remove anything that might detract from the visit. If there were shoes scattered in the entryway and math corrections spread on the coffee table, there would be no place for a visitor to put his shoes or her coffee mug. Similarly, without clearing our hearts of unnecessary debris, we cannot serve God well. Toys on the floor can be a tripping hazard for a guest, and selfish pride can be a stumbling block for service to God.
If we cleanse ourselves of things like the prideful certainty that we are superior to another person or the selfish desire for personal pleasure, we can be useful to God by speaking humbly with a struggling believer or helping an elderly neighbor with some weekend yardwork. If our selfish desires and sinful tendencies are cleared away, we can more easily serve the guests God puts in our lives, whether in our homes, churches, or communities. Maybe it is time for some housecleaning!
Clear away whatever impedes your service to God.
Emma Dainty is a Houghton University (NY) senior who loves reading, birding, and deep conversations about books.
© 2026 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.
