Gems of Knowledge

Today’s One Year Bible Verses: Genesis 18:16-19:38, Matthew 6:25-7:14, Psalm8:1-9, Proverbs 2:6-15

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Fit For The King

The Lord spoke to me today about the refining of our hearts and minds. If we are His holy temple—a place for Him to dwell—then that dwelling must be clean (1 Corinthians 3:16). Scripture tells us plainly that nothing unclean will enter His presence (Revelation 21:27). God is holy, and where He dwells must reflect His holiness.

The Lord used my own work to help me understand this. I own a construction cleaning company. After a space has been remodeled, my team goes in and cleans it thoroughly. Dust, debris, residue—everything left behind from the renovation has to go. When the job is finished, I walk the space to make sure nothing was missed. Only then can the tenant move in and fill the space.

But the cleaning doesn’t stop there.

Even after someone moves in, the space must be maintained. Trash has to be taken out. Dirt builds up daily. Without regular care, the place will eventually fall into disrepair. Neglect leads to decay.

This is how it is with us.

God remodels us—sometimes deeply. He removes what is broken, replaces what is damaged, and restores what was once uninhabitable. But after that work, our hearts and minds must be cleansed so He can dwell there. And once He enters, maintenance matters. Day by day, we must allow Him to remove what doesn’t belong—sin, bitterness, pride, fear, and distraction.

If we neglect that daily work, garbage piles up. Dirt settles in. What was once restored can become corrupted again.

We see this sobering truth in Genesis 18–19. Sodom and Gomorrah became so morally and spiritually corrupt that the place had to be condemned and torn down—not out of cruelty, but for the sake of what surrounded it. God is patient, but unrepented corruption always leads to destruction.

Jesus warns us not to miss this lesson. In Matthew 7, He asks why we are so quick to inspect other people’s houses while ignoring the mess in our own. He reminds us to treat others the way we would want to be treated (Matthew 7:12). We wouldn’t want someone barging into our home, judging, condemning, or trashing the place—so why do we do this to others?

And sometimes, if we’re honest, we’ve allowed pigs into the house.

Little compromises. Old habits. Justifications we tell ourselves aren’t a big deal. Before long, the home starts looking more like a pig pen than a palace—unfit for any man, and certainly unfit for a holy King.

But here is the good news.

God is not looking for perfection—He is looking for surrender and faithfulness. Jesus tells us that if we seek the Kingdom of God above all else and live righteously, God will give us everything we need (Matthew 6:33). We don’t have to worry about tomorrow. Today’s work is enough for today.

Day by day, we clean the house for the King.

And He promises that when we ask, He hears. When we seek, we find. When we knock, the door will be opened (Matthew 7:7–8). What good father would refuse his children what they truly need? (Matthew 7:9–11)

When we prepare a dwelling fit for Him, He comes. He enters. He stays. And He fills the space with His goodness. 💎

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Action (5 Minutes with God)

Today, ask the Lord to walk through your heart the way a builder walks a finished space. Invite Him to show you anything that doesn’t belong—attitudes, habits, distractions, or compromises you’ve allowed to linger. Don’t rush this. Simply acknowledge what He reveals and ask Him to remove it. Then commit to daily “maintenance”: time in His Word, honest prayer, repentance when needed, and obedience in small things. Make your heart a dwelling fit for the King.

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Prayer

Lord, You are holy, and I want my heart to be a place where You are welcome. Search me and show me anything that does not belong in Your dwelling. Cleanse what needs to be cleansed, remove what needs to go, and restore what has been neglected. Help me not to focus on the faults of others while ignoring my own need for refinement. Teach me to care daily for the place where You dwell. I seek Your Kingdom above all else and trust You to provide everything I need. Come, Lord, and make Your home in me. Amen.

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