Laundry Day
1 John 1:8-10
As I tote the basket of dirty clothes to the laundry room, I’m thinking, “How did this thing get so full so quickly?” I don’t recall having done that much to have accumulated such a pile of laundry this past week.
I begin pulling out the clothes and putting them in the washing machine. Oh, here are those blue jeans I spilled oil on when I was changing the oil in my tractor (every time my goal is not to make a mess, but here is proof once again that I didn’t achieve that goal). Four pairs of gym shorts? Oh yeah, I did play Pickleball four times this week (and no, it has nothing to do with pickles). Then there are the shirts, socks, and so on, and the odd sock (great—lost another one somewhere). It all adds up so quickly, and I realize how grateful I am for my old, reliable Maytag. At the end of the day, it is so nice to have clean, folded clothes ready to use again, clothes which have been washed clean of the grime and stains from everyday life.
You may see where I am going with this, considering the scripture reference in the heading. Confession of sin before our God is a good thing; in fact, it is a blessing. Through the work of the Holy Spirit our gracious Lord shows us our transgressions and our shortcomings. Jesus loves to commune with those He has saved. According to scripture we are His joy! To have unhindered communion with our Lord we must come humbly before Him, acknowledging our sin and repenting of our actions. “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us” (1 John 1:8).
It is good to take stock of our actions. It is important to recall what we have said, done, or even thought. As a redeemed sinner, God will bless you with conviction of sin, but it is up to you to acknowledge and repent of that sin. And there will be times when action must be taken along with confession. If you have wronged someone, you are responsible for making amends.
Brothers and sisters, we are covered eternally by the blood of Christ and therefore stand justified before our God. But to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and be conformed to His image requires us to be ever mindful of how we live and not grieve the Holy Spirit within us. “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). What a blessing! What a promise!
Do your life’s laundry daily before the Lord. There is great comfort, joy, and true blessing in having a clean heart and clear conscience as you commune each day with Him.
Prayer: Father, help me to see myself as you see me. Please make known to me sins I have committed through word or deed, or sins of omission where I have failed to do what I should have done. “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10).
In the name of Jesus, Amen.