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Listen to this devotional: |
Listen while you read: "Beneath The Cross Of Jesus"1 (Lyrics) |
I recently had a colonoscopy, as many others have had. It's described as a medical test that is used to detect changes or abnormalities in the colon or large intestine. During the procedure, a tiny video camera allows the doctor to view the inside of the entire colon.
If you have ever had a colonoscopy, you know that the preparation is far worse than the actual procedure. The aim of the preparation is to empty the colon so that the doctor can view it clearly. This requires following a clear liquid diet the day before, and drinking four litres of a prescribed fluid in the 18 hours prior to the test — in other words, a purging or complete cleanse.
The Bible also speaks of cleansing.
Psalm 51:7 – Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. (NIV)
Why do we need to be cleansed? Because we are all sinners. The Bible says "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23 (NIV) God is a holy God, and He requires us to be holy, too.
Leviticus 19:2b – You must be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy. (NLT)
When we confess our sins to God, we are forgiven and cleansed of all of our sins and set free from the power of sin in our lives.
1 John 1:9 – If we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. (NLT)
This is not something that we can do ourselves or in our own strength. We are cleansed and forgiven not because of anything that we do but because of what Christ did for us on the cross when He gave His life as a sacrifice for our sins. It was Jesus' blood that was shed on the cross that washes away our sins. As the old gospel song says, "What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus." (Robert Lowry)
Titus 3:5 – He saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. (NLT)
He calls us out of the darkness of our sinful ways and into the freedom of His marvellous light.
1 John 1:7 – But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin. (NLT)
Let us examine ourselves closely and come to Jesus, repenting of our sins and seeking His cleansing and forgiveness.
Prayer: Gracious God, cleanse us from the inside out. Wash us, and we will be whiter than snow. Search our hearts and see if there is any offensive way in us. Make us aware of our sinfulness and help us to turn away from our sins and to seek You with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength. May all that we do bring honour and glory to You. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
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Great devotional Dee.
Thanks for sharing, Dee.
Wonderful message, thank you.
Thanks for a good word today Dee.
Easter blessings.
Thanks for you great Easter message. Well written.
(Ontario)
Thank you so much Dee, that is a good illustration.
Have a joyful Easter and thank you for your message.
Yes, prep for a colonoscopy is absolutely the worst part of the test. Praying with you that our lives will reflect our Lord’s love in every way. Thanks for sharing. Blessings.
Dee, loved your analogy of a colonoscopy. God does get to the “bottom” of sin in our lives and cleanses us from the inside out if we confess our sins.
Thanks for such a cute story!
Dee, I laughed at the title. I just had a colonoscopy last week. Thank you for pointing out that there is more than one potential reason for this and other cleansings – from the inside out. God Bless you this Easter tide.
Dear Dee,
I appreciate your devotion about cleansing. Each time we praise Jesus for the work He has done in our lives, we can bow low in humility and gratitude.
Blessings abound.
Greetings Dee,
You chose a real medical cleansing procedure to compare with the cleansing we must do to rid ourselves of sin. When we repent our sins, our Lord is so forgiving to give us that real thorough cleansing of our heart and soul and for that we need be ever thankful. Our Lord is truly good!
Blessings for your writings and for your Easter week.
Dear Dee,
Well, that is an interesting title to your devotional but very appropriate after I read it. This is a good time to remind us that we need God to rid us of our sins because we are all sinners. I had to learn over the years what God considers sins, because although I know the ten commandments, I did not recognize that I sin. Once I learned of the sins of judgment, pride, even thinking of one of the bigger sins, I could understand that I sin very easily. I am so glad that I can ask God to look into my heart and help me with my sinful ways.
I hope that the results of your colonoscopy are negative and that you can just work on seeking God’s help. May you enjoy this beautiful day that God has given us.
As we move through Holy Week, we can use the means of Grace allowing the Holy Spirit to remove thoughts and attitudes that stand in the way of our being fully cleansed.