We’re getting our home ready for the Christmas holidays. Boxes are being hauled out of the attic and decorations are going up all over! Tonight I was reminded of a holiday gathering from several years ago when Hollianne asked me to polish some old silver serving pieces.

And as she brought the silver out of the cabinet, I was less than impressed.

It was ugly. The pieces were stained with a dark tarnish that looked more like dirty dishwater than a shiny showcase for our table.

Hollianne put an old rag in one of my hands. In the other hand she put some silver polish. “Get to it,” she said. And after about 3 minutes of buffing, I could see the beauty in those pieces. It took some work, but the tarnish came off and the luster of the silver returned.

It was beautiful.

Isn’t that the truth for most all of us? We can all be stained from sin or a willful separation from a walk with Jesus.

And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.” Mark 7:20-23

I have gone through phases in my life when I felt hopeless and in total despair. Times when I was so ashamed that I couldn’t look myself in the mirror…much less approach anyone (including Jesus) for help.

Ever been there?

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:7-9

Jesus wants a relationship with us. He doesn’t care where we’ve been. He’ll meet us where we are and offer a peace that we can’t describe.

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23

When we feel our dirtiest, Jesus still wants us. He yearns for a close relationship with us. He wants us to turn from whatever is holding us back and run back to His loving arms.

And it takes work. Just like those tarnished pieces of silver, our lives are a daily work-in-progress. But we have the blessed assurance of God’s grace that covers all of us. We only need to seek Him daily…and Jesus will meet us there.

“Come now, and let us reason together,” saith the Lord. “Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” Isaiah 1:18

Jesus loves you- stains, dirt and all. And I love you too.

Please let me know how I can pray for you this week.