BE CLEAN

Luke 5:12
"If you wish, you can make me clean."
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A young man who had been raised as an atheist was training to be an Olympic diver. The only religious influence in his life came from his outspoken Christian friend. The young diver never really paid much attention to his friend's sermons, but he heard them often.

One night the diver went to the indoor pool at the college he attended. The lights were all off, but as the pool had big skylights and the moon was bright, there was plenty of light to practice by. The young man climbed up to the highest diving board and as he turned his back to the pool on the edge of the board and extended his arms out, he saw his shadow on the wall. The shadow of his body, was in the shape of a cross. Instead of diving, he knelt down and finally asked God to come into his life. As the young man stood, a maintenance man walked in and turned the lights on.

The pool had been drained for repairs.

We are all lepers – spiritual lepers, that is. What is worse, this disease affected our hearts, totally ignoring God up to a point of doing those that are exactly the opposite of His will. And worst of all, some of us do not believe that they ever can be healed! Yet, there is hope. There is hope when Jesus sends his gospel to us, and bids us to repent. "I believe in the forgiveness of sins": this is a sweet sentence of a true creed. Believe in the renewal of our hearts; for the Lord can give new hearts and right spirits to the evil and unthankful; cleansing our heart, our soul, our spirit – giving us salvation!

Almighty Father, make my heart clean. Renew a right spirit within me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you. Then I will teach your ways to sinners, and they will return to you. He who trusts in the LORD, mercy shall surround him. Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous; And shout for joy, all you upright in heart!

“Make me know you, O Lord
In the depths of my soul.
Purify me and I will be clean.
Wash me whiter than snow.” – Gilberto Barreto

Redeem us, Lord, because of your mercy.