SEPTEMBER 11, Ephesians 1:7

Kai sighed loudly when Mom had to stop because of a roadblock. Workers were repairing the bridge ahead, and traffic was temporarily stopped. “How long will we have to wait?” moaned Kai. “I’m not sure,” Mom replied. “It might be a while.” Kai looked out the window. She saw a red van, a delivery truck, some cars, and a motorcycle. Drivers craned their necks, trying to see if they’d be able to move soon. Some kept looking at their watches every now and then.

“Am I going to be late for the swimming class?” Kai asked, “The class at the community pool on the other side of the bridge starts at ten o’clock. “I don’t know,” Mom answered, “but we can’t go anywhere until that roadblock is removed.”

Kai sighed impatiently. “I wish they’d work faster!”she muttered. “Well, it’s out of our control,” replied Mom. “We’ll just have to be patient.”

They waited another five minutes.Then Kai noticed cars moving ahead. “Look!” she said. “I think the roadblock’s down!” Kai’s mom slowly eased the car forward, and soon they were across the bridge. “I’m so glad that I’m going to make it for the swimming class!” breathed Kai with a sigh of relief.

Mom smiled. “Just this morning, I was reading about a different kind of roadblock,” she said. “Really?” asked Kai.Mom nodded. “My devotional book referred to sin as a roadblock that keeps us from being close to God. Unlike the roadblock on the bridge, we don’t need to wait and wait for Jesus to take away our sin. It happens the moment we confess and ask for His forgiveness.”

“No waiting or wondering if we’ll make it to heaven, right?” asked Kai. “Or even if He still loves us anytime we’ve sinned.” “Nope! He assures us that He does and that He wants us to enjoy fellowship with Him each day,” Mom replied. “We need to confess our sin to Him and receive His forgiveness in order for that to happen.” She swung into the pool parking lot.

Kai grinned and jumped out. “Thanks, Mom,” she said. “If I hurry, I might still make warm-ups.”

Thought: Is there a roadblock of sin in my life? Perhaps it’s a bad habit, lying, disobedience, or stubbornness....

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I know I may have this sin (write it here ____________) and I confess it now and seek Your forgiveness. Help me to remember that Jesus suffered and died on the Cross for my sins. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.