Worthy

I have a worn dollar bill tucked away in my wallet. It's away from the other bills that are crisp, folded and ready to spend. There is a tear that almost splits the paper in half, and without a little clear tape--it's not likely to be accepted at any store. It's my reminder of value.

There is one place that will take that dollar. In fact, they will take it and give me a brand new crisp dollar bill in return for it. The bank actually has an agreement with the place the dollar came from: the Federal Reserve. If you read the bill carefully, you can find out a lot about it's origin and age. Signatures, imprints and serial numbers call out each bill as unique.

For every dollar they get, that government entity recognizes it as legal tender. Dollar for dollar, coin for coin. As long as it's a little over half there, they count it as whole.

Counterfeit bills don't make it back out into circulation. You can't even get an even trade for it. Once it's flagged, it's bagged and the route from which it came is traced to the culprit who tried to fool the system. Fire is it's destination.

Real currency that is torn, stained and ragged is returned to the Federal Reserve where they print more to replace them. And the tattered money is incinerated. Never to be seen again.

I know people who wouldn't pick up a penny, much less a damaged dollar bill. They can't see the true value laying at their feet.

Have you ever looked into the eyes of someone who's been torn apart by the world? How about someone tattered by substance abuse? What about those who are half there because a physical or emotional abuse have left them hanging? Or have you crossed paths with the one who wears their sin as clear as a torn dollar bill, and can't seem to fix it on their own?

The world will say there is no value in that person. The world will say to lock them up, take them out of circulation...they add no value to this earth.

But the Creator of that soul knows full well the value of that human. They have His imprint, His signature, He strung together their DNA...He knows their name and the path that has dropped them at His feet. Where others will step over them and abandon them, God stoops, reaches out and grasps them in His fingertips.

"There you are! I knew I'd find you...my treasure!"

And in God's hands, something amazing happens. That torn human becomes reborn. The tattered life is renewed, the battered soul is bright and fresh again. Where once stood a devalued life, now stands a priceless child of God--ready to face the fire that would've suffocated them before. Because a new life is not without it's trials and consequences.

It's time to spend your life wisely.  The price has already been paid for us. Let's look forward in 2017 and dream of God-possibilities!



"Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it? And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” Luke 15:8-10

Trash Day

When my son was old enough, we gave him the honorable chore of taking the garbage out of the house. I think maybe the first time he did it he felt pretty grown up, but week after week the repetitive process really got on his nerves. So he started to "forget" the chore...a lot.

A three person family can generate a pretty good amount of trash. And if you don't get it out to the curb, it piles up. The consequences then can be a simple smell at first, but that eventually attracts bugs, rodents and eventually disease. So really, this was a huge responsibility for a little guy. He just didn't see the long range consequences to the family as a whole.

It's the same with sin. Like garbage, if you don't bundle it up and kick it to the curb for God's waste management truck, it will pile up. I know, prayer and confession of sins can seem repetitive...but think of the long range consequences! When sins start piling up, they grow into bigger sins and you will find yourself so surrounded by spiritual garbage you may think, "What's the use in cleaning up at all?"

Dear reader, it is a daily chore and a heavy responsibility. If we confess our sins, He is faithful even we aren't and He will forgive us.

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9

"Forgetting" to do this only adds to the pile and eventually leads to disease or death.

The sting of death is sin, 1 Corinthians 15:56a

Think of one little sin as a rotting potato in the bottom of the trash bin. Eventually you cannot deny something is wrong. And until you get it right with God, your life will stink!

So my question is this, have you done your chore for the day? Have you found that rotting spud in the bottom of your soul that has stunk up your life lately? Or, have you "forgotten" about confessing to the One who already knows all about you and is waiting to reconcile with you?

Don't waste another day, or minute! His mercy is new every morning, so talk to Him...He is only a whispered prayer away. And if you've never attempted this in your life, isn't it time to sign up for daily trash pick up? Here is a simple sinner's prayer...

“Father, I know that I have broken your laws and my sins have piled up like so much refuse and separated me from you. I am sorry, and now I want to turn away from my past sinful life toward you. Please forgive me, and help me avoid sinning again. I believe that your son, Jesus Christ died for my sins, was resurrected from the dead, is alive, and hears my prayer. I invite Jesus to become the Lord of my life, to rule and reign in my heart from this day forward. Please send your Holy Spirit to help me obey You, and to do Your will for the rest of my life. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.”

Special note to dads and husbands: the "manly" chore of taking out the garbage is an analogy of dealing with your family's sin. It is your place to make sure your family has taken care of their own sins. You have only to look to Job--a wonderful example of a dad taking out the spiritual trash!

His sons used to go and hold a feast in the house of each one on his day, and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. When the days of feasting had completed their cycle, Job would send and consecrate them, rising up early in the morning and offering burnt offerings according to the number of them all; for Job said, "Perhaps my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts." Thus Job did continually. Job 1:4-5