One of the ladies in my office washed my coffee cup this morning. And no, I didn’t ask her to do it. Evidently she was appalled by the fact that sometimes I drink coffee out it, and other times hot chocolate. I also use it to drink diet coke, and for my hot tea. She was disturbed that I do not wash it each time. She reminded me that rinsing out a cup is not the same as washing it either. The condition of my cup never really bothered me before. I figured I drank enough hot beverages to kill any lingering germs. Until I saw how clean it was. I was amazed, happy, and grateful.

For many of us, our life can resemble my cup. I have stains from things I have done that I should not have. Then there are those things I should have done but didn’t. Mix in the poor choices, the bad thoughts, and the judgmental feelings. Pour in the stress of jobs, the pressure of relationships, and the uncertainty of our world. And sometimes we try to rinse out the mess of our lives, but we know something is still missing. We are still not right.

Jesus came to this earth to clean up the mess of our lives. To forgive the wrongs, to pay the price for our bad choices, and to free us from the addictions and expectations of a culture that just doesn’t really work for our lives. He offers a clean life of purpose, hope, joy, and peace. He changes lives – not just a little rinse job so the outside looks better – but real, genuine new life.

Maybe you have never realized life doesn’t have to continue the way it is now. You know deep down inside that it has to be better ... different somehow. Jesus can do that for you. And, if you let him cleanse you, you will be amazed, happy, and grateful.

I know this because he did it for me. Just like he can do it for you. Write me at steve@hopeforlife.org, or join the blog discussion at www.hopeforlife.org.


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