Here’s one more devotional for the woodworking series before we move into December and the newest series of 24 Advent devotionals that round out each calendar year. Be sure to return to this site daily during December as we prepare our hearts to celebrate Christmas!
(You can find the rest of this series by clicking on Author, Other Materials, above.)
My cousin David is a woodworker and as he completes a project, he often chooses to stain the wood to enhance the beauty of the product. My father, in contrast, sometimes waters a potted plant that sits on a wooden table and then walks away, not noticing that the water has spilt over on to the wooden surface. He returns later and finds an ugly waterspot marring the surface of the table. While David’s stain increased the appeal of the item, an unattractive circle caused by standing water detracts from the value of the table.
Do you have stains that have marred your life?
Have you ever been embarrassed to have a spot of mustard on your shirt? Does it feel as if everyone looking at you sees that spot? If only we were as embarrassed or upset by the blemishes of sin in our lives as we are by that spot of mustard on our shirt. Do we fool ourselves and think others cannot see the stains that sins leave on our lives?
Long ago, Christ gave up his life on a cross so that you and I might be free from the stains of sin that have scarred our lives. In Isaiah 1:18, the Lord says, “No matter how deep the stain of your sins, I can remove it. I can make you as clean as freshly fallen snow. Even if you are stained as red as crimson, I can make you as white as wool.”
Why not ask God to purify you now and make you fit for his work?
Wash me, Father. Cleanse me from all that detracts from the beauty you planned for my life.
