“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.” 1 John 1: 9,10. (NKJV).
She thrust back her shoulders, blinked to keep back the tears at the sight of his frail body, a shell of his former self. She tapped on the door.
"Hello. Told you I'd come to see you." He turned toward her, his eyes softening, then showing fear.
“Never thought I'd be like this,” he said. "Hate for you to see me."
“What can I do for you.” She pulled up a chair. “Would you like me to pray with you?”
“Been reading this.” He picked up the Bible. “Maybe it offers hope for some but not me.” He closed his eyes. A tear trickled down his cheek.
“You read the hard part of the Book. Did you read about the precious gift Our Lord Jesus gives us? The gift of forgiveness and love?”
"Didn’t see that.” Hope flickered in his eyes, faded.
“There’s no way He could love me.” He looked away.
“Because of something you did? You could tell Him you’re sorry.” He dipped his head.
“I have no right to ask Him for anything. After all I've...”
“Are you proud of it?” She tilted her head.
“Of course not.” She leaned forward, whispered.
“Then what you need is a good bath.” His eyebrows arched. “With God’s bar of soap that keeps on cleansing.” She smiled.
“He promises if we confess our sins, He’ll forgive us. That’s not all. He’ll cleanse us from all unrighteousness. He also says if we say we have not sinned, we make Him a liar...”
“I couldn’t call God a liar,” his eyes flared. "What can I do? Will you pray for me?”
“Tell you what. I’ll begin. You repeat.” She began but he took over, confessing his sins and asking the Lord Jesus to come into his life, to make him a new person. His eyes snapped open, now shining.
“Thank you for coming.” She gave him a hug.
“I’ll be back. We’re family now.” He grinned.
Kingdom Thinking. I’ve been there. Feeling there is no hope because of my actions or words. The Lord Jesus promises if I confess my sins to Him, not only will He forgive me but cleanse me--and adopt me into His Family. How about you? Do you need His soap that keeps on cleansing?
“What can I do for you.” She pulled up a chair. “Would you like me to pray with you?”
“Been reading this.” He picked up the Bible. “Maybe it offers hope for some but not me.” He closed his eyes. A tear trickled down his cheek.
“You read the hard part of the Book. Did you read about the precious gift Our Lord Jesus gives us? The gift of forgiveness and love?”
"Didn’t see that.” Hope flickered in his eyes, faded.
“There’s no way He could love me.” He looked away.
“Because of something you did? You could tell Him you’re sorry.” He dipped his head.
“I have no right to ask Him for anything. After all I've...”
“Are you proud of it?” She tilted her head.
“Of course not.” She leaned forward, whispered.
“Then what you need is a good bath.” His eyebrows arched. “With God’s bar of soap that keeps on cleansing.” She smiled.
“He promises if we confess our sins, He’ll forgive us. That’s not all. He’ll cleanse us from all unrighteousness. He also says if we say we have not sinned, we make Him a liar...”
“I couldn’t call God a liar,” his eyes flared. "What can I do? Will you pray for me?”
“Tell you what. I’ll begin. You repeat.” She began but he took over, confessing his sins and asking the Lord Jesus to come into his life, to make him a new person. His eyes snapped open, now shining.
“Thank you for coming.” She gave him a hug.
“I’ll be back. We’re family now.” He grinned.
Kingdom Thinking. I’ve been there. Feeling there is no hope because of my actions or words. The Lord Jesus promises if I confess my sins to Him, not only will He forgive me but cleanse me--and adopt me into His Family. How about you? Do you need His soap that keeps on cleansing?