Glory Girls: Created to Glorify
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Day Four: Welcome Home
“Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.” -Isaiah 1:18b
There is a song by Shaun Groves entitled “Welcome Home.” The lyrics describe the imperfect heart that God seeks to call His home. Our hearts are filled with guilt, shame, and greed. We hide our clutter and our dust, yet still God is there, knocking and waiting. If our hearts are filled with all of this “mess,” is there any room for love? My guess is no!
Matthew 12:34b warns of the danger of having a “bad” heart. The verse says that “…out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.” Not only is your heart bad, so are the words out of your mouth (more to come next week). It sounds like a downhill run from there. In order to do everything for the glory of God, you need to guard your heart. With an unhealthy heart, you will make unhealthy decisions. Pilgrim’s Progress refers to the soul being “cleansed of sin, making it more hospitable for the King of Glory.”
Look up 1 John 1:9. What does this verse say we must do to be forgiven and cleansed from all sin?
Please reread Isaiah 1:18b at the top of today’s lesson. What two “white” objects are used in this metaphor?
If you have prayed to receive Christ as your Savior, He has made you white as snow. Do not start trying to bring filth back into your heart! If you have already done so, do not let Satan’s lies condemn you. Instead, it is time to repent and let God do a little house cleaning!
1 Peter 2:11 has something to say about this. What does Peter tell believers in Christ to abstain from doing and why?
Now read the next verse—verse 12. Why is abstaining from sin so important?
I love this! If we abstain, others will see and give glory to God! Let everything you do be to His glory. If we, as pilgrims, fall into the snare of sin, we will be too busy at war with our own self to be fighting the real war. That is why Peter urges us to guard our hearts from sin. If we do not guard our hearts, we are inviting Satan to hold us captive. Instead, invite Christ over and let Him decorate. He is much better.
In the world of real estate, there is a two-word phrase that packs a whole lot of punch—“curb appeal.” If a house looks crummy on the outside, the assumption is true of the inside. God does not look at us with a “curb appeal” mentality.
Read 1 Samuel 16:7 and record the difference between how the Lord sees and how man see the heart.
In the verse, God is telling Samuel not to focus on David’s outward appearance. As we have heard from a young age, “it is what’s on the inside that counts.”
You might look like you have it all together right now, but what about your “insides?” Have you spend as much time decorating your heart as you spend each morning on your “curb appeal?” What parts of your life need light and decluttering? Think through each one of this questions. Write any thoughts that come to mind in the space below.
God already knows what is in there, yet He stands knocking at your heart’s door, waiting for you to let Him inside (Revelation 3:20).
Write out John 14:23.
Go back and underline the words love and obey on this page (or whatever similes your translation uses). Now draw a little house around the word “home” or “abode.”
Too often pride stands in our way. Pride builds up walls inside of us. Although sin might seem like a good idea at the time, it only puts another barrier between you and God (and often times your loved ones). As more walls go up, you will find that your heart gets darker and darker. It is a slow fade. However, nothing (even a bunch of walls) can separate us from Christ’s love (Romans 8:38-39). He is ready to reclaim your heart, remove its walls, and repurpose your life—and all you have to do is ask!
Write out an invitation in the space below asking Christ to decorate your heart. Make it simple or as fancy as you wish. List any places that might need a little extra attention to detail. I realize that this might be out of your comfort zone, but give it a shot (and maybe have a little fun in the process).
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About the Book
Day-to-day life can sometimes get a little boring. Since 95% of our days are quite ordinary, it is time to up our game. Satan wants us to be comfortable in our daily routines. He wants us to become apathetic to the world around us. He wants us to get frustrated when dishes break, children disobey, cars stop working, and neighbors’ yards grow to knee-height. He wants to keep us in the mundane, so he can distract us with little things and turn our songs of praise into anthems of complaints. In 1 Corinthians 10:31b, Paul challenges the church by saying, “...whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” What does that mean? What does that look like? In this seven-week study, you will unpack numerous verses that will help you answer these questions. In the end, you will find that you have already been equipped with everything you need; and all you need to do is act!
About the Author
Kerry Kavlie is a former first grade teacher who now stays at home, raising her family. Kerry lives in Savannah, Georgia with her husband, two children, and favorite beagle, Charlie. She had just completed Glory Girls: Created to Glorify when she received the dreaded call that her 24-month-old daughter had cancer. Her daughter is five, finished with treatment, and thriving! Through that life changing event, Kerry realized that God had been preparing her heart for the upcoming battle during the quiet months leading to her daughter’s diagnosis. Her desire is that you, too, will be encouraged with the same verses in this study.