Father, it is a joy to be with You this morning. May I be attentive to what You have for me. Draw me close to Your side. Give me a heart that wants to be like You more than anything else. Amen.
Revelation 3:4-6 (<<click here to read the passage)
One of my biggest challenges in life is keeping food off the front of my shirt. Inevitably, something of vibrant color will do so, especially when I am out in public.
It happened a couple of Sundays ago. We decided to run into town after church and grab a quick bite at a well-known Mexican food place. I kept my burrito in its wrapper for extra protection, leaned over the tray as a precaution…but to no avail! One bite and a chunk of tomato covered in meat sauce fell to my thumb, rolled down my hand, and tumbled over the front of my shirt! So for the rest of the afternoon, I walked Napoleon-style with my hand over my shirt, trying to cover the stain! And of course, we ran into people we knew…no surprise there!
Verse 4 here speaks of the few in Sardis who had not “soiled their clothes with evil.” Sin leaves a mark; stains are unavoidable. Trying to cover them up is futile. Lord, You see it all. You witness the act, and You are keenly aware of the aftermath. The older I get, the more I realize that I, in and of myself…I, in my own strength and power…I simply cannot stand against sin. Inevitably, I will take a bite out of something I shouldn’t be biting, and it will roll down the front of my shirt, and my clothes will be soiled. Only in You, Lord, can I be victorious! Only in You can I avoid the temptations. Only in You can I stand strong against the evil that wants to entrap me.
Lord, may I be faithful to You. May I be victorious so that I too may “walk with [You] in white” for only because of You will I be found worthy. Amen.
(July 21st, 2017, Fri, 6:49 am)
Apr 19th, 2026, Sun, 5:37 pm
