In August of last year we moved into a new house, not just new to us but brand new. We are as surprised as anyone that we are here. We feel very blessed and grateful.
One of my favorite parts of our new house is the ensuite bath. Our last house did not have this feature. My favorite part of the bath is the tiled and glass enclosed walk-in shower.
Because of COVID-19 I have been working from home. I used to have to shower every night after coming home because my clothes would pick up the smell of one of the chemicals we make, it smells like old fish. Now that I work from home I lose track of when I showered last.
I showered last night. I had spent a long weekend in the garage working on a project and i was dusty and sweaty and dirty. It felt good to get clean.
Getting clean, washing away dirt and sweat and stench and filth. It feels good. What about our inner person? How do we clean our souls?
Forgiveness
Forgiveness is the hot shower of the soul. Who can we go to to get forgiveness?
Let’s read a bit of Luke 7 and find out.
“When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them. When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.” Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.” “Tell me, teacher,” he said. 41 “Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?” Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.” “You have judged correctly,” Jesus said. Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. 46 You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. 47 Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.” Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”’
Luke 7:36-50 – NIV
Are you feeling dirty?
Our sins, whether few or many can all be forgiven and washed away by Jesus.
Like in my shower whether I am caked mud and filth or just need to wash off a stinky smell, the forgiveness of Jesus works to cleanse me, cleanse us.
Peter’s Posts 