I heard a story about a strict family who only watched G-rated movies.   When the mom went out of town, their 11-year-old boy begged his dad to “please, please watch an R-rated movie.” He said, “All my friends say it is the best.”

After the dad said no, the boy cried, “But Dad!  There is only a little bit of sex in it.  Just a little bit.   Please dad, please.”  So the dad replied, “I’ll make a deal with you.  I’ll make your favorite meatloaf and we’ll watch the movie together.  But if I don’t like it, we’ll turn it off with no complaining.”

An hour later, they sat in front of the TV and said the meal prayer, and then the dad said, “Son, I made your favorite meatloaf and I’m excited to watch the movie with you!   But before we dig in, I just want you to know that I put just a little bit of dog poop in the meatloaf.   But don’t worry about it, because it is just a little bit.”

This funny story reminds me of how I’m a good guy 99% of the time.  I’m friendly, a good dad, a thoughtful husband and my dogs like me.  But you see, I still have just a little bit of dog poop – we’ll call it sin – inside of me.   Just a little bit.

Of course, I can focus on some sins – like swearing as an example, and promise to never swear again… So whew, yes, it’s been a long, long time since I’ve sworn!   Ah, but what happens when I swear again. . .  Or what about my next sin. . .  No matter how hard I try, I can never be completely clean with no dog poop, no sin of any kind inside me.

There is only one thing we can do.  The Bible says, “If we confess our sins to God, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  1 John 1:9.

On our own we will never be completely clean.  We will always have a little bit of sin.  But through the grace of what Jesus has already done for us, we can be made pure – with no stain of sin clinging to us.  It is the only way to die and the only way to live – and we can have it right now!

Let’s pray, “Dear Jesus, Thank you for forgiving us of our many sins.  Thank you for loving us so much.  Thank you for your mercy and grace that is so much greater than our sins.  Thank you for cleansing us.  We give our lives to you, right now, and make you our Lord and Savior.  Amen.”