Whiter than Snow

My 18-month-old granddaughter woke early from her nap and stood in the cot crying for a few minutes before I heard and responded. She had a filthy nappy which had slopped out of the nappy and down her legs to her feet. No wonder she was upset.

After calming her down, I lay her on the bed where she remained quiet as I carefully cleaned off the worst and got the soiled clothes off. Then she needed another comforting hug before we finished the clean-up and dressed her once again in sweet-smelling clothes.

Just thinking what a picture that is of the way we come to Jesus. We are filthy – filthier than we think or like to admit – and unable to clean ourselves up. Even our clothes stink. Jesus washes us clean and dresses us in pristine clothes and we then exude the sweet fragrance of our Lord. 

Flick was grateful and happy. So am I.

Automatic

The dishwasher hums and whirrs, bubbles and sloshes behind me as I sit at the table. Dirty dishes went into it, soap powder was added, electricity powers it and for an hour it will whoosh away until all the dishes are squeaky clean and dry, ready for use again.

The dishes don’t have to do anything but sit there. Hot water and soap powder and electric power clean them up. 

I come to Jesus in prayer, at church, in Bible study. I worship him in song, in prayer, in Scripture. The purity of God’s word washes over me, through me, around me, in me. I come away cleansed, refreshed, renewed and ready to be used again. 

‘Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow,’ God promises. Jesus took the sin of the world on himself on the cross, so that we could be cleansed and able to approach God. 

Jesus did it all. We just have to get into a quiet place, or a worshiping place, alone or with other believers, and Jesus and his Word will cleanse us.

Ready for use again.

Dirty Windows

Great having such a sunny day, but it sure does show how dirty the windows are! It’s embarrassing, but my back is still not right so they will just have to remain dirty.

Light reveals dirt. That’s the way it is, isn’t it? That’s why when Jesus is around, it isn’t comfortable to be wallowing in sin. Of course, he’s always around. So how is it that so many people manage to wallow in real serious sin without any second thoughts. A look at the paper reveals just how many people choose the dark rather than the light. 

It is a choice, and we all have it. The Bible says that God would rather we turn from our sins and live with him forever, than choose to live apart from him. But he has given us free choice, and he allows us the dignity to make our choice freely.

If you’ve not made a choice for Jesus yet, give it some real thought. You may find that as his light shines on your life, it reveals some dirt that you’d like to have washed away. And that is what he does. He washes our sins away so that we are as white as the snow, and can approach the light without fear.

It is great having such a sunny day, and such a loving God of light.