by Marilyn Ehle
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9
For over three months I have been recovering from surgery. Until one month ago, there were many household tasks I was simply unable to perform due to a fair amount of immobility. While my patient and skillful husband did much of the work I usually do, I neither asked nor expected him to do what many women would call “deep cleaning.” (He probably doesn’t even notice those nooks and crannies that catch my eye!)
But as the calendar marches to spring and warmer weather, there is that inbuilt (and easily ignored!) urge to wash windows, dust hard-to-reach shelves, reorganize closets, etc. I want to do more than surface cleaning; I want,” in a sense” to purify the house.
Many Bible translations use the term “forgive” instead of “purify” in the verse written by the Apostle John. The sense of purification is best described in the Amplified Version: (He will) forgive our sins [dismiss our lawlessness] and [continuously] cleanse us!
God is in the business of purification, continuous cleansing, around-the-clock, around-the-calendar spring cleaning as we submit ourselves to His gracious plan. He asks only that we recognize and agree with Him about the things (sin) we know are wrong; His grace goes on to purify us from all unrighteousness, even what is hidden in the nooks and crannies.
Loving God, I can hardly imagine grace that flows so freely that you would bow to my humanity, asking only that I confess what I know to be wrong. You then go on to continuously cleanse me from even those things I’m not yet aware.
You can comment on this devotional online at:
http://thoughtsaboutgod.com/blog/2010/03/27/me_spring-cleaning/
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