"Come now, let us reason together," says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. Isaiah 1:18
People will do a great deal to cover their sins and shortcomings.
Not so long ago a lady who is director of adult education at a community college shared the sad story of a man who had came to her and confessed he couldn't read.
It wasn't the man's inability to read that surprised her.
What was amazing is the man's wife of eleven years didn't know her husband couldn't read.
How had he kept her in the dark? That's easy. Every night after dinner the man went into the living room, held a newspaper in front of his face and, for an hour, pretended to read.
Finally, when the man couldn't stand his cover-up any longer, he decided to do something. He decided to learn how to read.
In his actions that man could easily be the poster boy for humanity. Most of us, like that man, try to cover up our shortcomings. We all want to maximize our good and minimize our bad.
Sadly, when it comes to sin, covering up is just about all we can do. We are completely and utterly helpless to do anything more than masquerading, camouflaging, and smoke-screening our transgressions.
It is only the Lord who has the power to erase our sins. Only through the substitution of the heaven-sent Savior can our scarlet sins be made white as snow.
So, if you have a sinful shortcoming that doesn't seem to go away, try giving it to the Lord. Because of Jesus' life, death, resurrection, and ongoing presence, forgiveness has been given to millions.
Forgiveness can also be given to one more -- you.
From a devotion originally written for "By the Way"
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, a long procession of sinners has stood before You. I give thanks that You have, in the Person of Your Son, offered forgiveness to them all. Now, may I rejoice in that blood-bought gift of grace that has changed my life and my eternity. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
In Christ I remain His servant and yours,
Pastor Ken Klaus
Speaker emeritus of The Lutheran Hour®
Lutheran Hour Ministries
Today's Bible Readings: Isaiah 59-61 Romans 11:19-36
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