3.6.23

Last night I pulled a warm load of laundry out of the dryer. As I went to fold my clothes, I noticed blue stained spots on a handful of my favorite articles of clothing. It turns out, one of my blue Uniball pens was left in one of my pockets and made its way through the washer and dryer cycles. UGH! Six clothing items were ruined in this catastrophe.

Last night I learned this simple lesson: it’s critical to put the right stuff in the washing machine with my laundry. If I use a Tide pod, my clothes usually come out clean and smelling fresh. If I use a blue pen with a full ink cartridge, my clothes will come out stained. Noted.

As I was folding my newly tie-dyed clothing, I thought about how our hearts are a lot like a washer and dryer unit. What we put in our hearts will directly impact all areas of our lives. The ink in the blue pen works just like what the Bible calls “sin”. I once heard it said that sin, in its most basic definition, is running from God. When I disobey God and run from him, sin works like poison in my heart. The poison ink bleeds, producing spots of doubt, frustration, selfishness, ect. When my heart becomes stained like this, it impacts me in all different areas of my life. Maybe you’ve experienced that to be true in your own life too.

Thankfully, God offers what the Bible refers to as “grace”. Grace in its most basic definition is God pursuing us, despite our sin-stained hearts. What a wonderful gift! When I soak in the amazing grace which God offers, it cleanses my messy heart. Just like a Tide pod in dirty laundry. Through the grace of God we’re offered a pure heart – a heart full of goodness, forgiveness, obedience, truthfulness, joy, and hope. With a heart overflowing with such wonderful fruit, it works into every area of my life – my job, my relationships, my decision making, and much more. So great is the grace of God.

So make sure to check your pockets. Take out the poison ink and throw in a Tide pod – because what goes in with your laundry will impact more than a few t-shirts.

“But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ, even when we were dead in transgressions – it is by grace you have been saved.” – Ephesians 2:4-5

NOTE: If you want to learn more about this gift of Grace, I recommend the devotional book “40 Days of Grace” (https://www.amazon.com/Days-Grace-Paul-David-Tripp/dp/1433574292).