Saturday, March 3, 2007

Father, grant that our hearts would be encouraged by your Spirit today
as we look upon Jesus.

Scripture for today: 1 John 1:9, 10

What do you see? If you can quote these verses from memory, be extra
careful! Read them again, slowly, in an unfamiliar version. What is the
motivation for God’s forgiveness? What does “cleanse” mean? Define “all”.

I once had a co-worker who drove a Porsche. One of his “little
pleasures” in life was to pay the bridge toll for a stranger two or
three cars behind him and then speed off! Imagine the scene a few cars
later: “I don’t need your money; you’ve already been paid for!” “By
whom?” “That guy in the Porsche.” “I don’t know who he is!” “I do! He’s
the guy who paid your toll!”
So it is with our Father. Jesus went on ahead of us and paid the price
for all our sin (and not for ours alone, John will soon add “of the
whole world”). When we, as Christians, come to The Father and agree with
Him about our wrong doing, wrong thinking, and general “falling short”,
He is “faithful” and “just” . . .. Pause with that a moment. Not
“lenient” and “soft”. Not even “loving” and “gracious” (though, of
course, He is that). His motivation in this particular act is His own
faithfulness and justice. The toll has been paid. It would be wrong to
charge double. “You are forgiven because the debt has been paid in full
by My Son” is the affirmation.
But there is more! He is not only “faithful” and “just” to forgive, He
also instantly cleans us of every defilement. The image is perhaps
painful for some of us (whose mother’s may have taken to the task a bit
too vigorously) but it’s like: “He cleans behind our ears for us!”
Maybe, “He washes our back for us” would be a more fitting picture. When
He washes, He is thorough; everywhere there is defilement, He cleanses,
continually. Even places we didn’t know we had are clean!
John ends with a kind of “Get real!” “Don’t deny your failure!” Admit
guilt and be forgiven. Be cleansed. Enjoy Him. He’s not speeding away in
a Porsche, He’s in your heart!

Lord Jesus, thank You for paying the toll for us all; for me. Thank you
for the continual bath. Thank you for the assurance that there is no
spot You missed. I love you.

John Michael Milgate, A Community of Grace