Dust is My Friend

There was a distinct chill in the house this morning as I entered the kitchen to make the early morning cup of tea. Extra chilly due to the fact that having burnt the toasted sandwiches the night before, all the windows and doors had been left open overnight to try and eradicate the odour that was a result of my faux pas.

Since the curtains were open, the sunlight poured through lounge room window and shone on the glass door of our stereo cabinet. Highlighted in the sunlight, it looked seriously filthy, covered with dust and fingermarks.
Having registered my shortcomings as a housewife, while the jug boiled, I retrieved the glass cleaner from the laundry, tore off a couple of sheets of paper towel and proceeded to clean the offending smears from the glass.

The incident was momentary, the sun soon rose and the dirt became invisible. But it had been exposed, and I felt compelled to remove it, compelled by guilt and awareness of my inattentiveness to regularly cleaning it, "Out of sight, out of mind", I guess. I have other things to do, rather than fuss over housework.

This incident caused me to ponder how this reflects on my life. Just as dust and fingermarks accumulate unseen on the glass door, so sin accumulates in my life. Without the light of God's Word shining on my life, I can overlook my shortcomings and they can build up quickly into serious grim.
It reminded me of what the Bible says about sin, we need to "lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily besets us, and run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith". (Hebrews ch 12 v 1-2). As believers we need to keep short accounts with God. "If we confess our sins, He (Jesus) is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John ch1 v9).

I am so glad that Jesus did it all. He paid the price for me, by giving His life on the cross and taking the penalty of my sin against God, His forgiveness is total and free. I need reminding constantly of this, and not wander off on my own sweet way collecting bad habits and less than pleasing ways, its all too easy to forget my need of forgiveness and repeated cleansing. Just like the glass door with the dust and fingermarks, sin keeps happening, I need to keep up the housework.

The tea was lovely, but, guess what, the sun had moved around a little and, while sitting in bed, sipping my tea, I noticed the dust on the cheval mirror in my bedroom...

I am learning that dust is my friend.

Wishing you a dust free, happy Monday
Simply Susan