Keep It Clean: Small Stains Multiply Over Time

from Daily Guideposts 2016

Have mercy on me, O God, because of Your unfailing love. Because of Your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins. — Psalm 51:1

My wife, Margi, and I pride ourselves on keeping a clean house. But after a few years with kids and dogs, even the tidiest home might need professional carpet cleaning.

When we started getting ready for that day, we had a mini-revelation. We’re not as clean as we think we are — at least not in the rooms frequented by certain precious children, who will remain unnamed.

Years of juice stains, dog hair, foot traffic, and snacks were adding up. The net effect was gross, especially in places that rarely saw the light of day. There was no giant spill, no massive dirty area. Just a lot of little spills adding up over time.

I looked into my own heart. There were no big sins. No high crimes or misdemeanors. Nothing that would shame my family. But had the small stains multiplied over time? Was there a growing collection of little sins? Had I become so desensitized that I couldn’t even see them?

I moved furniture around and continued cleaning. I was reminded of how my Sunday school teachers said to “keep short accounts,” that I shouldn’t go too long without checking in with God and making sure there was nothing between us.
Thank God for a dirty rug.

Dear Father, help me keep short accounts. Preserve me from growing numb to things that sully my walk with You. — Bill Giovannetti
Digging Deeper: Jude 24, Jude 25

Today is a great day to sit down and do some heart-furniture-moving with God, asking Him to show us what isn’t as clean as we thought, and asking God for a deeper walk with Him as He cleans up the mess.

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