The White Shirt

I am a bit of a klutz. I have never broken a bone but I am forever spilling things. I try to be careful. I try take safety precautions and still there is a mess.

I sat down to dinner wearing a new white shirt. The thought crossed my mind I should change my shirt, put on an apron, or at the very least, tuck a napkin under my chin. “I’m a grown up, I’ll be careful.” Barbecued pork ribs in apricot dipping sauce thought otherwise. Not five minutes and I was wearing a stain of sauce on my white shirt. I should be use to this by now but I was still angry with myself. I’d seen it coming and I still didn’t take precautions.

As I was rinsing out the stain with cold water, hoping it hadn’t set, I thought how much like sin this is. I tell myself: This time I will be fine. This time I will steer clear of any mishap. And there I am again with a stain of sin on me.

When I rinsed my shirt there was a hint of sauce left. It was faint but still there. I smiled. Christ has washed me pure and clean with his blood, there is no stain left when he rinses me. I will probably drip another mess across another white shirt. Try as I might I will have the stain of sin on me again as well. But I know the sin will not set if I confess and repent. I will be washed clean with Jesus’ saving blood.

Dear God, Thank you for washing me clean in your blood. Do not let the stain of sin set in my heart instead gently remind me of your saving grace. Amen

Posted 11/17/2008 @ 12:38 PM | Weekly Thoughts