Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.  Philippians 2:5-7

   As Christians who love God, we are His. We want to live for Him, shine for Him, and be a vessel for Him. Likewise, God loves us, He wants to shine through us, and work through us to encourage each other and reach others who don’t know Him. Simply put, the Holy Spirit wants to “make His home in us”. He wants to live in and through us. When our lives are full of sin, idols, and other focuses besides Jesus, there is no room for Him. We need to “clean house”! We need to empty ourselves and allow room for the Holy Spirit to make His home in us.

    Several years ago, I had an opportunity to witness to a very close, non-Christian friend, who was asking about Jesus. I couldn’t find the words to say. It was then that I realized I wasn’t living for Jesus and allowing the Holy Spirit to work through me to be His witness. I wasn’t reading my Bible, I wasn’t praying, I wasn’t going to Church regularly, nor was I spending any time with God. I didn’t have a “relationship” with Him. I was focused on “other stuff”- stuff of this world. I realized I needed to “clean house” (empty myself of the past, my sins and things not of God) before He could fill me and work through me to minister.

    In Philippians 2:5-7 Paul tells us that even Jesus emptied Himself. We don’t think of Him having to do that because He was God. But in order to teach us how to live, He chose to humble himself, take on the form of a slave and be made in our likeness. As a man, he could have had “clutter” in His life just like we do, but He chose to “keep His house clean” by continually emptying Himself. As should we.