I learned something new this past week. Before my family and I headed to the mountains, we let some of our friends stay up there. They reported that our upstairs bathroom had the most horrible smell which was stinking up our entire house. They cleaned out the back of the commode tank, thinking some crazy bacteria was growing. They used bleach, candles, etc …
A few days passed and then we walked in the house. Me and my super nose noticed it right away. I repeated their remedy by using candles, flushing, cleaning … but it didn’t solve the problem.
Finally that night my Boaz walked into the bathroom and said, “It is coming from the tub drain.” He turned on the water, poured in a bit of bleach (our solution to everything it seems – ha) and the smell was immediately gone. Of course this left me scratching my head.
The next night we went out to eat with a couple. The man’s occupation: PLUMBER! Guess what I learned! Want to know? Ok, you see that picture on this post? That is called a trap. I just assumed that it’s purpose was to trap hair, dirt, whatever — but NO, it holds water in the bend of the pipe. Why does it hold water? The water acts as a PLUG to seal off bad sewer smells!!! Yep, you read that correctly. So, when a house has been sitting for a while, the water in the trap evaporates, leaving a house wide open for lovely sewer aromas. Isn’t that interesting?
So, you know how my mind operates … this was a great analogy of what happens in our lives. The Holy Spirit operates as a “Plug” or “Holy Filter” to keep the stench under control in our lives.
I have been wanting to research some scriptures on JEALOUSY because it appears to be running rampant around us lately. Jealousy is a HORRIBLE thing and it makes people say and do things that they normally wouldn’t. It destroys friendships, family, etc …
Part of Solomon 8:6 states, “jealousy is cruel as the grave.”
This is just a small example of what jealous people can do:
Genesis 26:12-15
Isaac planted crops in that land and the same year reaped a hundredfold, because the LORD blessed him. The man became rich, and his wealth continued to grow until he became very wealthy. He had so many flocks and herds and servants that the Philistines envied him. So all the wells that his father’s servants had dug in the time of his father Abraham, the Philistines stopped up, filling them with earth.
God blessed Isaac for His own purposes, but the Philistines were so jealous that they filled up all of Isaacs wells and forced him to relocate.
Genesis 27:19-20
“Here comes that dreamer!” they said to each other. “Come now, let’s kill him and throw him into one of these cisterns and say that a ferocious animal devoured him. Then we’ll see what comes of his dreams.”
How is that for brotherly love? Joseph’s brothers were so jealous of him, they would rather have him DEAD than be in his presence any longer.
Jealousy can make a person go MAD. It was an open door for an evil spirit. Example, Saul:
1 Samuel 18:8-12
Saul was very angry; this refrain galled him. “They have credited David with tens of thousands,” he thought, “but me with only thousands. What more can he get but the kingdom?” And from that time on Saul kept a jealous eye on David.The next day an evil spirit from God came forcefully upon Saul. He was prophesying in his house, while David was playing the harp, as he usually did. Saul had a spear in his hand and he hurled it, saying to himself, “I’ll pin David to the wall.” But David eluded him twice.
Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with David but had left Saul.
What about Cain and Abel? We all know how that turned out. Cain was so jealous of Abel that he killed him. He was jealous because Abel’s offering pleased the Lord. Jealousy truly is as cruel as the grave.
Proverbs 3:29-32
Do not plan evil against your neighbor, who dwells trustingly beside you. Do not contend with a man for no reason, when he has done you no harm. Do not envy a man of violence and do not choose any of his ways, for the devious person is an abomination to the LORD, but the upright are in His confidence.
Ok, so back to the trap and the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit doesn’t “trap” us, but He does bring conviction. If we follow His leading and IF we allow God’s truth and correction to guide us, we won’t allow jealousy to fill our hearts. We won’t allow bitterness and hatred to take root.
Rage and murder don’t just happen. They begin with a root cause. If you think about it, even with jealousy, the root must be pride. Ick, what a nasty problem … pride. Pride says, “I should have that. I should have more than he does. I deserve it. I am the victim, poor pitiful me. He has enough!” Pride = Me, Myself, and I. Pride makes us focus on ourselves. Lucifer focused on himself and how he should be equal to God. Pride made him fall — well, actually caused him to be cast down out of heaven.
I don’t know about you, but I pray the Holy Spirit will help me hold my tongue and keep my heart in check so that my mouth won’t be like an open grave (or sewer). I pray the water of the Holy Spirit will guard my heart and mouth.
Amen, thanks for starting my week off so powerfully sis, love you.
Amen. Great post.
Pride and jealousy surely STINK! Nothing can clean it and make that stink go away but the cleansing power of the Spirit! Great post sister Beth. Glory to God! I talked about pride. You talked about pride. God must be saying something that we need to clean up, all of His children! 🙂 Love and blessings to you.
Great post & I'm glad you got the stink out, lol!
I LOVE how you're always able to take the ordinary and turn it in to some sort of wonderful lesson! AMEN to what you wrote…we all need help in that department.
I love the way the Holy Spirit speaks through you and how bold you are in your teachings. Pride is the root of a lot of sin and I bet each one of us can fill in the blanks individually from this root cause.
They are going to make you pastor someday, I just know it.
Love you,
Mary
I never knew that!! Love how you apply lessons to everyday life, which we can all relate.
I love how you are like me and we learn/hear about God's messages and lessons through the everyday and the ordinary. How awesome that God even cared enough about the little details in your life to align that dinner.
Oh, and how many times have I spewed sewerage when I needed a Holy plug!
Great message, and one we all need to hear! I struggle with jealousy myself sometimes and it makes me feel just terrible. It's like a disease that eats you up inside. Thanks for sharing your wisdom:)Smiles to you!
Excellent post Beth!
great post… I love the sink analogy.. and yes I can see the Holy Spirit helps to protect us from filth.. I am sharing this – **grin**
Have a great week luv x much luvx
Definetly food for thought! I love that, a trap to keep the bad stuff out! 🙂
Smell is a powerful thing isn't it? Most of us don't think about our lives giving off either the stench of pride or the beautiful aroma of a life surrendered to the Holy Spirit. Great way to use your experience to bring home a spiritual lesson!
Blessings,
Debbie
Amen, sister!
I have a question, though…these friends who stayed at your house…they didn't bathe while they were there??? I'm trying to figure out how the water evaporated!
Bill calls me "Radar Nose"! I seem to have a very sensitive schnoz, which can be unfortunate in a house full of guys! 😉
That was wonderful, Beth!! I loved the comparison!!!! I learn something new every time I stop by here!!
Great post. Thank you Lord for the Holy Spirit to keep us under control
I pray the Holy Spirit will help me hold my tongue and keep my heart in check so that my mouth won't be like an open grave (or sewer). I pray the water of the Holy Spirit will guard my heart and mouth.amen amen amen
yes, sister,,yes. I was just elected President of the Catholic Women's League of our parish. Jealousy trying to run rampant upon the situation.Strife, back biting, gossip, dissension. "He is a shield for all who look to Him for protection.: Psalm 18:30
What an awesome devotional. thanks for covering us with God's Word sister.
amen…great post. We all have to allow the Holy Spirit to do its job and bring us under conviction. Have a great "smelling" day.!
Awesome post, Beth! Very powerful and challenging me to check to see what is caught in my "trap" that I need to deal with before it begins to stink.
((hugs))
Beth, this is a wonderful post…I also love it that we see God's hand in our lives through the practical things around us in the natural, physical world. He is everywhere, if we stop to notice. I so agree that the Holy Spirit holds back the horror of our lives…we would be so rank and unlovely were it not for the sweet fragrance of the gentle and patient Holy Spirit of God in in our lives. That is cause for great thanksgiving and humility…we can do nothing on our own.
God bless you, Beth!
Mary
A plumbing lesson and the Holy Spirit all in one post. Who knew?! I certainly didn't… at least as far as the plumbing trap thingy. But it served as a perfect analogy for the way God uses his active presence in our lives when we are faithful to keep the water flowing.
Well said, Beth, and thanks for visiting the blog today.
Blessings and peace to you this week~elaine
What an awesome analogy, Beth! Bitterness, jealousy, pride, greed….all of that makes us miserable. They cannot be quenched, except in the Lord's power, and all they do is make you miserable and unhappy and chasing after things that you don't need.
~ Nan
An Amen from me too!
WELL DONE BETH out of a U-Bend Comes some GREAT TEACHING. More please. God will meet your needs for you and your family. AMEN. LOVE POD.