If You, O Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? Psalm 130:3
I have some friends who are, because of a promotion, selling their house and moving to another city.
The idea of leaving their church, their neighborhood, their friends, and their home has made the move traumatic.
Amazingly, one of the things that bothers them the most is when the realtors call and say, "We're bringing over some prospective buyers in a half hour. Give the house a quick straightening up and then disappear."
Both husband and wife have confessed they don't like the idea of someone prowling around their kitchen and poking into the drawers and closets. The thought has made them very uncomfortable. No, it's not that they have anything wrong hidden away, and it's not that they're embarrassed at the cleanliness of their house.
It's just that, well, there are just some things they'd rather not have people see.
I can sure understand that feeling. You can, too.
All of us have things we would rather not have other people know about us. Just as we don't want anybody snooping in our closets and drawers, we don't want people prying into our private affairs.
We all have too much to hide -- too many things we've done of which we're not proud.
Have you ever thought how the Lord sees each and every one of those sad, sorry, and sinful things we've done? He knows our thoughts and our wrong actions. Amazingly, in spite of seeing every one of our hidden secrets, He still loves us.
He loves us enough to send His Son to become one of us, to fulfill the Law for us, to resist temptation for us, and to die and rise for us.
It's an incredible and gracious attribute for a gracious God.
In spite of knowing who we really are, He still cares.
From a devotion originally written for "By the Way"
THE PRAYER: Dear Heavenly Father, for all my sins that are an insult and an affront to You, I am sincerely sorry. Please accept my appreciation for Your Son and the forgiveness He has won for me on the cross. 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: Job 36-37 Matthew 15:1-20
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