We use filters everyday without thinking about them. We have filters in our furnaces, air cleaners, humidifiers, electronics, vehicles, radios, septic systems, water supply systems, kitchens, and even our glasses. Their purpose? To separate out the impurities, contaminates and unwanted material from an item to make it clean, pure, healthy, and safe.
We use filters everyday to keep our physical bodies healthy and keep our society running efficiently. With all the things we do to filter out harmful things to our bodies and environment, why don't we apply the same principles to our spiritual lives? Often, we find ourselves lacking a spiritual filter. Everything we see, hear or feel enters into our hearts and minds, sending our system into overload and crashing us spiritually.
We can also go to the other extreme and have the wrong type of filter in place. You wouldn't use a coffee filter for your car, or an air filter for you water, right? The wrong kind of filter can keep healthy, beneficial things out and allow harmful impurities in. It can also fail to filter anything out and allow the good and bad through together.
In the world we live in today, with all the negativity, political unrest, hatred of good, glorification of evil, and disagreements within our churches, we must have the right spiritual filter in place. How do we determine what is real, what is accurate, what it truth?
In my spirit, I heard the Lord say loud and clear "Jesus is your filter". That's it. Not politics or government, not churches, pastors or prophets, not good works or intentions, not movie stars (even Christian ones), authors or musicians, not family or friends. Only Jesus. If it doesn't glorify Jesus, then it isn't from God.
Honestly, that can be hard to accept. Yet, if we truly know the Word of God, we can see that everything in it points to Jesus. Jesus is the perfect reflection of God the Father. Everything he is, everything he has done, everything he is doing, reflects God's character and will. Jesus is the filter through which we come to the Father. Jesus is the filter through which God sees us and accepts us as His children. Jesus filtered out all of our sin for us on the cross. It's all about Jesus. Only Jesus. Only Jesus' name is above all names. Only the power of Jesus heals. Only Jesus brings salvation. Only Jesus has eternal life. Only Jesus is the Light of the World. Only Jesus is Truth.
All things from God, filter through His Son, Jesus. If it comes through any other filter, it is false. Once you start using Jesus as your filter, everything becomes pretty simple. There is no more struggling. No more controversy. No more guessing. It either is, or it isn't.
I recently had a moment where something in my past came up and attempted to make me feel ashamed and overcome. Instead of letting these thoughts run through like they have in the past, I put them through my Jesus filter. Worship and praise immediately sprang forth from my heart and mouth. The lies of the enemy where so obvious. Instead of being ruled by unreliable emotions, I soaked in the truth and goodness of God. It was absolutely amazing! I had such freedom and joy!
The Jesus filter is life changing. He cleanses body, soul and spirit. He heals, restores, and rebuilds. He brings truth and light, hope and love. All things good come through Jesus. He is our protection, our restoration, our salvation.
You can experience this freedom too! Knowing Jesus, the real Jesus of the bible, the Son of God, is the key. I encourage you to start putting your thoughts, emotions, and words through your Jesus filter. Use Him when others speak to you, use Him on your social media, use Him when listening to sermons or music. Use Him when dealing with difficult people or situations. Use Him when you are overwhelmed, depressed, or feeling unloved.
Incorporate Jesus into all areas of your life and see the difference He makes!
Colossians 1:15-23
15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
21 Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. 22 But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation— 23 if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.