It
is pretty amazing the way we clean our clothes today if you think back to how
it used to be. I can remember when I was a child my Mom putting the clothes through an old ringer washer after scrubbing them
on a washboard and then hanging them out on the clothes line to dry (or having me as her oldest son to hang them
out). There are still many people around
the world who wash clothes in a similar fashion. Now, most
of us here in the United States simply spray some stain remover on our clothes,
put them in a washing machine, and then put them in a clothes dryer.
It is not unusual for me to get
stains on my clothes especially my shirts.
I am thankful that most of the time we can simply spray our favorite stain remover on them and after
washing and drying they look as good as new.
I wish that it was that easy with a different kind of stain, the sin
that clings so close to us. It is not so easy to take away the
transgression of thought, word, or deed.
We cannot take back the word that hurt a friend or family member… or “do
over” the deed that brought disappointment or heartbreak to others. When we spray a stain on our clothes, that
stain will be removed in an hour or two.
The stains of the heart cannot be removed in such a short period of
time.
During this season of Lent, I am
reminded again of my smallness in the shadow of
a large, omnipotent God and of my imperfection in the face of our
faultless Savior, Christ Jesus. I am
also reminded of the truth and good news that “while we were yet sinners,
Christ died for us”. As the old hymn
puts it: “What can wash away my
sin? Nothing but the blood of
Jesus.” Thanks be to God that “though
our sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow” through the amazing
grace of Christ Jesus. Have a
joy-filled week.- Pastor Randy Wall
PRAYER
Lord,
the old spiritual declares “O Happy Day.
When Jesus washed my sins away.”
Thank you for the unconditional, matchless grace that is mine this day
and everyday; through Christ our
Lord. Amen.
