"Let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God." (II Cor.7:1) This was "Verse of the Day" on the BibleGateway site this morning. What does it mean? How does it apply to me, a clean-living Christian?
Filthiness of the flesh and spirit: ingratitude, resentment, lack of joy, negativity, insensitivity to the needs of those around me, chronic anxiety - anything ring a bell? As soon as we begin recognizing how filthy, how repugnant these are, we will begin to overcome them.
"Man's enslavement to the most relentless masters... is conquered only by a mighty struggle. Every hour of delay makes the struggle more severe. If man is not victorious over the passions, they crush out happiness, health, and manhood. Here Christian Science is the sovereign panacea, giving strength to the weakness of mortal mind, — strength from the immortal and omnipotent Mind, — and lifting humanity above itself into purer desires, even into spiritual power and good-will to man." (S&H)