Jesus, The Ultimate Mr. Clean
Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Psalm 32:1
I am not a mopper. I sweep often, but I don't normally mix up the mop water and lather the floor, at least not on a set schedule. In the past, when I mopped my floor simply because I thought it needed it, by bedtime, it was sticky again. Frustrated I would say, “Why do I bother?!”
Without realizing it, I slowly developed a new philosophy: “Don't mop until it's absolutely necessary.” In a house with three kids (and my husband and I aren't spill-free either) there are frequent reasons to mop. So when there was a spill, I found myself saying, “Well, it needed to be cleaned anyway.” What a difference! From “Why bother!” to “It needed it anyway.” When I had that thought, I didn't blow my top about a careless mess. It's easier not to “cry over spilled milk” when your floor hasn't been mopped in a while. Like Pollyanna I was finding something to be glad about in a normally frustrating situation.
I guess we hadn't had a big calamity in a while because I looked at my floor this morning and thought, “Wow, it needs a mop!” So, I swept my way around the kitchen, then mopped (with the kids “helping.”) After about five minutes of assistance from my little helpers, water was a ½ inch deep in some places because my son decided it would be quicker to just dump the mop water out on the floor. (Whose idea was it to let him help?!) After soaking up the water with towels, it looked good and we stood back admiring our work. But, the afternoon would strike and catastrophe was awaiting us.
First, I dropped my plastic bottle of authentic vanilla from Mexico and the top broke. (Pollyanna: At least Vanilla smells good!) Then, my son decided he needed to drink the last Coke in the house without asking permission. When I found him, Coke was all over the counter, running down the cabinets and making little puddles on the floor. (I think even Pollyanna would have had a hard time finding something to be glad about in this case!) He must have shaken the can before he opened it because everything was “stickified,” not just the floor (after all, orange juice is better when you shake it. Coca-Cola should be, too – right?) Looking at his shirtless belly dripping with little rivers of the sugary syrup, I realized that he would need an afternoon bath.
So, after a little discipline for not asking permission, then putting him in the bath, I mopped the floor… again, wiped down the cabinets, counters and everything on them. For the moment, the kitchen is clean – every inch of it! If everything goes well, maybe I won't have to mop again before tomorrow. I might even get away with one bath for the little guy today. I guess you could say I'm ahead of schedule. Like Pollyanna…I'm glad of that. But, the next time I decide to mop because I haven't in a while, I think I'll wait until the afternoon. Maybe by that time I'll be able to say, “Oh well. It needed to be mopped anyway!”
God's forgiveness is sort of the same way. He forgives us, then we usually need to be mopped of some sin again by bedtime. The difference is, he doesn't say, “Why do I bother?!” Our tendency is to do one of two things: either confess when it's obvious that we've made a mess of today, or our sin accumulates so gradually that we don't notice our need for forgiveness. Whatever the case, the Bible says, “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) Whether it's an obvious sinful mess that needs pardon or a slowly accrued heap of wrongs, today is a great time to ask Him to mop your heart clean. You'll be glad you did.
Lord,
I'm tired! I get so frustrated when the cleaning I do seems like the quickest way to another mess. Thank you for never tiring of washing me clean. Help me think of areas that I've offended you. Especially bring to my mind things I would never notice. I pray I would be more concerned about the condition of my heart than the cleanliness of my home. If there is someone I need to forgive, I pray you'd give me the heart to do that so that I can experience the full joy of your forgiveness. Thank You, Lord…in Jesus name, Amen.
-Sharon
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