The Cleansing Power
| If we confess our sins,
He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all
unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9, NKJV. |
The summer heat
was already intensifying as I stood and stretched my aching muscles. Even
at 9:00 a.m. the July sun was potent. I had learned that the never-ending
work of maintaining a yard was best done early in the day. Wiping the sweat
from my face, I smiled at the results of this morning's work. The flower
bed was again rid of those noxious, prickly thistles. It looked pretty
good, though I couldn't take credit for the rainbow array of perennial
flowers that brightened our landscape. The previous owner had shown a real
talent for arranging and planning flower beds that would complement the
uneven terrain. My job was to try to keep the weeds removed.
Returning the gardening tools
to the garage, I gratefully headed for the shower. The dust and dirt of
the garden mixed with sweat might be a sign of honest labor, but it was
hardly a thing to cherish longer than necessary. As the warm water and
soap removed the unpleasant aroma of my morning's toil, I thanked the Lord
again for the convenience of abundant hot water and modern plumbing. Not
only did the soap and water remove the dirt, but they also brought relief
to muscles unaccustomed to such agricultural pursuits.
When God created the skin
to cover the human body, He could have made it as tough as that of the
turtle's shell. Instead our skin is supple, strong, and so sensitive that,
according to Paul Brand and Philip Yancey in Fearfully and Wonderfully
Made, we can discern a thousandth of an ounce of pressure on the tip
of a half inch of hair. No wonder the warm spray of a shower is so delightfully
refreshing!
Rejuvenated, I stepped from
the shower ready to tackle the rest of the day's tasks. The psalmist had
recognized the restorative power of water when he prayed, "Wash away all
my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. . . . Cleanse me with hyssop, and
I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow" (Ps. 51:2-7,
NIV).
| Thank You, Lord, that Your cleansing
water of life is even more available than the warm water in my shower.
Please wash me every day. |
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