Date nights are a big thing for my husband, Greg,
and me. We are fully aware of the importance of prioritizing our spouse and
giving them your full, undivided attention at least once a week.
Last night we enjoyed a concert at our church home followed
by a tasty dinner at a nearby restaurant. We both enjoyed our salads, nice
conversation and a slower pace. It wasn’t until he leaned over to steal a kiss
when I realized… I had goat cheese breath.
For the rest of our dinner I drank water to rinse
out the flavor but it didn’t seem to help. Why
didn’t I keep a toothbrush in my purse? Chewing gum didn’t even seem to
make it go away. Greg was far too polite to say anything, but I knew full well
it was noticeable.
This made me wonder, how many other things do we try
to cover up? Bad attitudes, wrong choices, or even our sin nature are all
things that can cause a stink. What we need is to be washed clean with God’s
living water but instead we try to pretend it isn't there. For example, I have been guilty
of trying to ‘serve’ my guilt away. Thinking that if I could just be good
enough, no one would pick up the stench of my sin. I end up ignoring the
problem and inevitably making it worse.
Part of the problem is our tendency to sin; the
other part is how we think. I’ve done my share of stinkin’ thinkin’, have you?
As humans, we are all going to make mistakes. But are we forgiving ourselves
for them? Or do we let them fester and decay in our spirit as a constant
reminder of our failure? That can end up being stinkier than the sin itself! Either
way, we need to allow God to cleanse us with His love through His Word. Only
then can we become fragrant instead of rancid.
Do you have something stinking up your life? Are you
suffering from some stinkin’ thinkin’? Friend, there is not enough air
freshener or peppermints in the world to cover up the smell of our sin. So
maybe it’s time to be washed clean and have a fresh start!
Be blessed,
Jennifer
“You
are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.” John 15:3
1 comments:
Great message Jennifer! Have a blessed week!!! Love you sweet sister! From, Melanie :-) Your friend way up here in Northern Michigan.
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