The other night when I was doing my laundry, a thought came to me. It was more of a comparison thought than anything, maybe even a reminder.
Each day we put on our clothes. Hopefully they are clean and don't smell, unless of course one uses scented fabric softener sheets in the dryer. By the end of the day, they become dirty. Somedays our clothes are dirtier than on other days, sometimes even smelly and sweaty. They can get pretty gross depending on what we do. We let our clothes pile up until it is time to wash them again, and get them clean and in a usable condition.
This reminded me that my dirty laundry is like my life when I sin (which is every day). When I sin, I get all dirty inside. I am not 'presentable', I am not clean. I need to cleanse my inner self often (preferably daily) and become 'presentable' again. When I say that I am not presentable, I am meaning in front of God. The sin is separating me from Him, therefore I am not presentable.
I need to get cleansed. I need to wash myself in the blood of Christ again, asking for forgiveness from my sins. I need to repent, turn away and sin no more. If I am having trouble ceasing with a particular sin, I need to seek His help in stopping. It is only when we are cleansed of our sin, forgiven, that we can boldly stand in front of God.
I am so thankful that Jesus cleanses me and washes me clean from every sin. I am thankful that no matter how often I mess up and dirty myself through sin, Jesus will forgive me (though this does not give me or anyone an excuse to purposely go and sin). I am thankful that Jesus will cleanse me as often as is necessary (as often as I ask) until He comes again.
It is only through the shedding of the blood of Christ that we can and are forgiven of our sins. Nothing else will save us. Nothing else will help us. It is only through Christ's death and resurrection that we can obtain our eternal life.
If you need cleansing, talk to Jesus now. He is waiting for you.
11 comments:
great post, shelly. GOD bless you.
wonderful analogy, we do need to take a shower with God's word!
Great post as always, great insight!!!
AMEN and AMEN!
Well said Shelley! Wow, I've never thought of my laundry in such a manner but now that you've mentioned it, IT MAKES PERFECT SENSE!
Yes, JESUS alone can cleanse us of our sins, of our offenses. And HE is waiting for us..to humble ourselves and acknowledge our mistake.
Thanks for the reminder Shelley!
I'm so hard headed He not only has to wash me daily with soaping of I John 1:9, He also has to use a bit of softener on me, too.
Thanks for your comment @ my blog.
I have linked to your blog.
dear sister: if you need to wash in Jesus blood again and again, are you saying that Jesus has to come down and die again and again? Heb 9:11 (interesting number) said: the Blood of Christ is perfect and obtained eternal redemption.
Even the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer can 'cover' Israelites' sin once a year.
Heb9:14 How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death,so that we may serve the living God! See, it doesn't cleanse our act, but cleanse our consciences from act! Our daily life might fall here and there, but it doesn't change the fact that we are make righteous of God by the blood of Christ! Wake up and smell the coffee! you are the daughter/son of the most High God, He don't see you as sin, because 2000 years ago, they were judged in the body of Jesus, the blood was shed once for all. Washing yourself in Blood of Jesus again and again, is saying that blood of bull and goats are greater. (Dear all, if this concept sound strange to you, they are from the bible, NKJV. Cyberanger has many links to those who know about once-and-for-all sacrifise of our Lord, feel free to take a look)God bless you greatly!
By the way, 1 John 1:9 was NOT for believers, it was written to the gnostic, those who don't believe Jesus came for their redemption. Further more John mention in following verse: 1 John 2:1-2 My little children (refering to believers, which he didn't mentioned in earlier verses), these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world. Be blessed!
I remember being a little girl in bed at night and loving the smell of the fresh white linnen that my mother hung on the clothesline that day. I'm sure my robe of righteousness, is soft and fresh and most of all pure white.
Fish tank: I am saying that we must ask forgiveness for each sin that we commit. Yes, Jesus died on the cross for our sins, to give us forgiveness, but that is no excuse to sin over and over and not ask for forgiveness. Yes, He does forgive us, and Yes He will forgive but we must ask for that forgiveness!
Let's agree that forgiveness of sins is a GIFT. :)
Now, how do you receive the GIFT?
Do you prefer to receive it by saying "Lord, Thank You for forgiving me" or saying
"Lord, Please forgive me"?
dear Shelly: I was by no mean saying that we can sin all we want when we obtain salvation, that's idiot's doing. But ask ourselves and honestly, how many sin can you remember to confess? and how about those we forget? and how do you define sin? according to Jesus, the biggest sin is unbelieving and fear, worry is a sin. how much can we confess to hit God's standard? How many times can we ask God to forgive us, when He himself said: For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sin and their lawless deeds, I WILL REMEMBER NO MORE.
God remember NO MORE your sin 2000 year ago, you think He remember now? He sees you in Jesus today. He see you without sin all the time. 1st Peter: What God has cleansed, don't you called unclean! Even yourself! see yourself holy in and wholely in Christ, sin will be the last thing you want to commit
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