THE SILVER BASKET

In Proverbs 16:16, we read: “How much better to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.”

Janie twisted the silver basket one way, then the other. Humph. Take forever to clean this old thing.  It’s black. She squirted dish soap on a cloth, scrubbed. When she rinsed it, she stared. For goodness sakes. She’d never get this thing clean. Feeling someone watching her, she peeped up.

Leaning against the kitchen door, arms crossed, Grandfather grinned. “What are you doing?

She tossed her hands in the air, soapy water spattering. “Trying to clean this thing. Grandmother wants to put flowers it.”

“First, let’s get this soap off your nose.” He dabbed it with his handkerchief. “Know what’s happened to this basket?” She tilted her head, waiting for him to tell her.

“Underneath this tarnish, the silver’s the same as the day the basket was made.  Over time the tarnish built up because the basket wasn’t cleaned or put to good use.

“The pollutants in the air caused the problem. The basket couldn’t do a thing about it--and along came Janie.” She giggled. He got silver polish from the pantry.

“I’ll help you. We need the right polish so put on these gloves and let’s get to work.”

“Wow. That looks great, Grandfather. Thanks for helping me. Grandmother will think this is a new basket.”

“You know, Janie, we’re a lot like the basket. We’re tarnished by living in this world--all kinds of pollutants be they physical, spiritual or emotional. We try all kind of cleansers but nothing seems to work. We need someone who is willing and able to cleanse us and buff us when necessary.

“The Lord Jesus?” she said.

“Yes, He made us and knows exactly how to clean us. He allowed sinful, tarnished man to nail Him to the tree. He took all the tarnish on Himself so we can be clean, like new.

Kingdom Thinking. No matter how deep the stain, He nailed it to the cross so I could come to Him. He wants to clean my live so I reflect Him. He loves me with an everlasting love. Do you want to be cleansed and loved for eternity? He waits for you.