Scripture reading: I John 1:5–10

White As Snow

Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow. (Isaiah 1:18)

As a pastor, I have heard all manner of excuses as to why people are not in church on Sunday morning for corporate worship. People go to amazing lengths—often comical and bordering on the irrational—to justify their absence. This would be amusing were it not so serious. It reminds me of an article I came across many years ago entitled “Ten Reasons Why I Never Wash.”

 

1. I was forced to wash as a
2. People who wash are hypocrites—they think they’re cleaner than
3. There are so many kinds of soap, I could never decide which was
4. I used to wash, but it got
5. I wash only on Christmas or East
6. None of my friends
7. I’ll start washing when I’m
8. I really don’t have
9. The bathroom isn’t warm
10. People who make soap are only after your money.

 

The Gospel invites us to come clean. Sin has soiled our lives so that we are dirty on the outside and polluted on the inside. We need more than a shower, we need the cleansing of the blood of Christ—a powerful agent that makes us white as snow, inside and out. But cleanliness is something that must be maintained; one bath is not enough. The world, the flesh and the devil continue to bring the muck and mire of sin into our hearts and lives. The initial bath of regeneration gets us off to a good start (Titus 3:5), but we then need regular trips to the bath house to deal with the accumulation of dirt and sin that clings to our body and spirit (John 13:10). Corporate worship is to the soul what regular baths are to the body: an opportunity to live clean. Imagine what would happen if every week we sang the old Gospel song by Elisha A. Hoffmann and really meant it!

Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing power? Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

Are you fully trusting in his grace this hour? Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

Lay aside the garments that are stained with sin, And be washed in the blood of the Lamb.

There’s a fountain flowing for the soul unclean, O be washed in the blood of the Lamb.

When the Bridegroom cometh will your robes be white? Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

Will your soul be ready for the mansion bright? Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

Are you washed in the blood, In the soul-cleansing blood of the Lamb?

Are your garments spotless? Are they white as snow? Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

 

Almighty God, unto whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid: cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of thy Holy Spirit,  that we may perfectly love thee, and worthily magnify thy holy Name; through Christ our Lord. Amen. —book of common prayer

 

point to ponder • The Gospel makes possible not only an outward washing of our sinful behaviors, but also an inward cleansing of our sinful nature.

 

prayer focus • Purity of heart.