NOVEMBER 3

Psalm 51:7

Adam’s eyes widened in horror. His elbow had knocked a bottle of paint off the table, and he watched it slowly toppled to the floor. The blue paint spread in a growing blob across his kitchen floor. Adam jumped off his chair and quickly picked up the paint bottle. “What am I going to do?” he wondered. “I’ve got to clean this up before mum and dad see it.”

Adam rushed for some rags. Coming back to the kitchen, he used a rag to soak up the paint on the floor. A large stain remained behind, so he got a bucket of soapy water and began scrubbing the paint spot. “This isn’t going to work!” Adam thought frantically. “I can’t get the paint off my hands, either!” He knew he would have to tell his parents what had happened.

Dad frowned when he came in and saw the stain, but he knew it had been an accident. “Well, I’m just glad the floor isn’t carpeted!” he said with a wink. “I have some special cleaner, and I think it will work on this.” Dad went to get the cleaner and soon, all traces of the paint was gone.

“You know, Adam,” said Dad as they washed their hands with the same cleaner they had used on the floor, “maybe we can both learn a good lesson from what just happened.”

Adam looked up at him soberly. “Not to fool around with paint in the kitchen, right?” he asked. Dad smiled. “Well, yes,” he said, “but I was thinking of an even more important lesson. You couldn’t wash the paint stains away by yourself, could you?” Adam shook his head. “The Bible tells us we’re all stained by sin, and no matter how hard we try, we just can’t clean it away by ourselves,” added Dad as he dried his hands. “But the Lord Jesus died and rose again, making it possible for our sins to be washed away.”

Adam dried his clean hands, too. “I needed that special cleaner to use on the floor and on my hands,” he said, “and I need Jesus to clean my heart, right?” Dad smiled and put his hand on Adam’s shoulder. “Right,” he agreed. “That’s exactly right.”

Thought: Have your sins been washed away?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for today’s reminder that I cannot clean my heart and life by being good or doing good things. I need the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the only one who can make my heart clean and free from the stain and guilt of sin. I pray for forgiveness for my sins and ask that You will cleanse and make me whole again. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.