When a child soils a diaper, who cleans him? Can a baby clean himself? When toddlers cover each other with ink or peanut butter or shaving cream or flour (see YouTube), do the parents tell them to clean it up? No. Children are terrible at cleaning up. Mom and Dad have to do it, or it will only get worse.
We are the same way. Humans are great at making messes, but terrible at cleaning up. God has to do it, or it will only get worse. Only God can truly clean you.
King David understood that. He makes that clear in two psalms, both of which were written after he murdered Uriah and stole his wife, Bathsheba.
In Psalm 32 he says, “When I kept silent about my sin, my bones became brittle, my strength was drained, Your hand was heavy upon me. But when I confessed, You took away my guilt.” Psalm 32:3-5.
But Psalm 51 is the real star. Read it. It may be the BEST prayer for a guilty heart. Your mom and I have memorized much of it:
“Be gracious to me, O God.… According to the greatness of Your compassion, blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin…. Against You, and You only have I sinned, and done what is evil in Your sight, so that You are justified when you judge me…. Purify me and I shall be clean; wash me and I shall be whiter than snow. Give me joy again. Let the bones You have broken rejoice again. Blot out my iniquities. Create in my a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me…. Restore to me the joy of my salvation. You do not delight in sacrifices and burnt offerings… The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise…”
Read Psalm 51 and talk to God about your sin. It is a beautiful piece of worship.
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Household Words: 