I AM always amazed at the amount of dust that accumulates in the vacuum cleaner when I clean. The carpets never look that dirty but the evidence suggests otherwise!

Unnoticed, dirt collects over time as carpets are walked on and dust settles. Isn’t this just like our lives? We may look and feel clean, but dirt slowly embeds itself. The little things we do wrong start to build up – wrong thoughts, harsh words, bad attitudes, and slowly they begin to stick. Over time, we find ourselves grubby and in need of a clean.

1 John 1 vs 9 says ‘If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just, and will forgive us our sins, and purify us from all unrighteousness’.

God doesn’t give up on us because of our dirt. He doesn’t despair when it starts to build up. Instead, he waits patiently for us to notice and ask for forgiveness. He can then ‘vacuum’ the dirt and empty the cylinder, providing us with a fresh start.

Let’s not get into the habit of ignoring or hiding our dirt, but acknowledge it before God, and allow his perfect love and forgiveness to clean us and make us like new.