Another Sunday! I always look forward to Sundays because of the many encouragement I find from many blogging for the Lord. If you want to know more about Spiritual Sundays, please visit this great site hosted by Sister Charlotte and Sister Ginger. Thank you both for always inspiring us to gather together, to encourage, to amuse, or to pray.
Filthy As Rags
Handcuffed, he came out of the police’s squad car. A nauseating stench followed him wherever he went. His unkempt appearance obviously told his condition of being homeless. With only a backpack crammed with a few things, it was the only belongings he carried, day after day.
The deputies took everything away and stuffed them into the big, plastic bag. He was brought into a cell where he could shower. His dirty clothes were stripped and stuffed into the big, plastic bag, together with the backpack. This would go to “Property” where they would store all the inmates’ belongings and be returned to them, once released. Everything he had was filthy, same with himself.
Cleansed from a bath he never had for a while, he was issued the orange jail uniform. If he remained dirty and housed with others, he would be prone to being attacked by other inmates if the lingering stench would make them angry. But now that he had showered and all cleaned up, it was safer to have him housed with the rest of the jail’s population.
Aren‘t we all filthy, too? Smudged by sins that are deserving of God’s anger. But because of His love, mercy and grace, He chose to offer the cleansing power that comes from the death of His own Son.
The only way we can be housed with God is when we choose to be cleansed by the “blood of the Lamb”.
Isaiah 64:5-7, Contemporary English Version:
5 You help all who gladly obey and do what you want, but sin makes you angry. Only by your help can we be saved.
6 We are unfit to worship you; each of our good deeds is merely a filthy rag. We dry up like leaves; our sins are storm winds sweeping us away.
7 No one worships in your name or remains faithful. You have turned your back on us and let our sins melt us away.
Our righteousness will not save us. It’s God’s righteousness that makes us clean. Our only hope is faith in Jesus Christ, the One Who can cleanse us and can bring us into God’s presence. There is no other way!
What a great analogy. I'm so happy to be washed in the blood of the lamb. Thank you for sharing this with us.
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful weekend and a great Spiritual Sunday.
Charlotte
Oh Rosel, as usual ... such a wonderful post. It is my heart's desire to be a pleasing aroma to our Lord. Can you imagine the stench of sin to the Lord? Nothing but the blood of Jesus can wash away that stench.
ReplyDeleteBless you for blessing us.
Beth
Faith in Jesus' perfect righteousness is what makes us clean before Him! Amen! So clean that we can come boldly before Him, knowing that He will not have to turn us away because of our sin but will embrace us and honor His promise of provision in every way. That is so wonderful! Thanks for sharing this Rosel! I am always blessed and reminded of God's goodness here.
ReplyDeleteChristy
Amen Rosel! So glad to be washed by the blood of the Lamb. Made clean and white as snow! Thankyou Jesus!
ReplyDeletelove and blessings to you my friend
Amen, amen. I am so grateful to be washed by the precious blood of the Lamb. I love you my friend.
ReplyDeleteThis is a very good post Rosel. So very true. Thank heavens for being cleansed by the blood of Jesus. He who rescued us from our sins. May we all be led, following Christ and be cleansed! Thank You Sister and God Bless!
ReplyDeleteRosel,
ReplyDeleteThank goodness for God's grace in allowing us the opportunity to be showered in the blood of the Son and no longer be covered by the filth and dirt of this world.
Thank you God for showing us the way, the truth and the light through having faith in Jesus Christ and that in doing so we may have eternal life in abundance.
Love and Hugs ~ Kat
Oh, bless the precious blood of Jesus! Without it where would we be? Thank you for a lovely post, friend!
ReplyDeleteThere isn't one of us that doesn't need the washing of Jesus to make us clean and whole. I'm so thankful for Him. Have a wonderful weekend, Sister Rosel. Be blessed at work and with your family.
ReplyDeleteLove & hugs!
Mary
What a fitting analogy, Rose. Thank you for sharing this. It is so important that everyone realize that though there are many voices in the world today, there is still only One Way!
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Elaine :)
Rosel,
ReplyDeleteWhat a meaningful post! I am so thankful for being washed clean and able to start anew with Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I am going to start volunteering at a homeless shelter here in town soon. I will try to see if I can help those who are in need.
Thank you for your posts and Keep the Faith!
I like this analogy...
ReplyDeleteGood illustration.
ReplyDeleteIndeed we are all dirty....filthy. Thankfully, our Heavenly Father washes that stench away when we come to him with remorse and confession.
ReplyDeleteI am so thank-ful for our Lord,and I thank him daily. Thank-you so much for this powerful post.
ReplyDeleteGinger
"Amen" to all the comments that got here before me. Thanks for posting.
ReplyDeleteI always find myself so moved when I come here. I log to see those men transformed by the blood of Christ! Yet in todays post I am reminded that many "clean" people are wearing filthy rags of self righteousness when God looks down
ReplyDeleteWonderful post
Great story and comparison. We do need cleansing...daily!
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful post. Thank you for your constant inspiration.
ReplyDeleteGod bless you Anne
Wow. Very intense.
ReplyDeleteLove your post*! Have a blessed Sunday*!!
ReplyDelete_Ashley*
Hi,
ReplyDeleteThank you for a very powerful reminder of how we are washed clean by Jesus' Blood. Praise God!
Blessings,
Jean
Praise the LORD for using you to share and encourage.
ReplyDeleteThis says it all:
"Aren‘t we all filthy, too? Smudged by sins that are deserving of God’s anger. But because of His love, mercy and grace, He chose to offer the cleansing power that comes from the death of His own Son." "The only way we can be housed with God is when we choose to be cleansed by the “blood of the Lamb”."
Blessings and love dear sister.
A wonderful analogy to understand the cleansing of our sins. Jesus is the hope, the light and the only way. A huge blessing to read this today.
ReplyDeleteJeanne
How sad that he had to commit a crime to have a shower...and probably a good meal. I'm sure it is sometimes more appealing to be "in" than "out."
ReplyDeleteAmazing analogy. May we offer a bit more grace to those whose smell lingers and point them in the right direction instead of becoming indignant with the stench.
Great analogy! I'm thankful to the Lord that I am washed in the blood of the Lamb!
ReplyDeleteKatherine
Rosel, another wonderful post. I haven't been by in a while, but I do check in from time to time. Life has been very busy - and very blessed these days. The only down side to all of that is I don't have the time to visit with friends as much as I would like.
ReplyDeleteYou remain a blessing to me. I have lately felt heavily burdened by the needs of others for prayer. I am reminded that the burden is not be carried by me alone, but by all of us and ultimately relinquished to the one who washes us clean.
May I grab your prayer warrior button? Andrea said you designed it yourself. I would be honored to have it at my site as well.
Hi Rosel,
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful post! I like the analogy and am so thankful I too am washed in the blood of the Lamb! Sorry, I am late getting around to my Spiritual Sundays visitors. Have a wonderful week, sister.
Blessings,
Sandi