Recently I received a lovely gift from a friend. The gift bag had many lovely items in it, including some really fabulous lipgloss, some chocolates, TAZO tea bags and the best item: a bar of soap. Seriously, I’m not crazy – it is a really great bar of soap. Its creamy and lathers up with lots froth and bubbles. And the best part, it has a flowery lavender scent that I am absolutely in love with.
Unfortunately I don’t even know what the brand is because I threw the wrapper away. But I promise you, it really is the best bar of soap I’ve used in a long time. There’s just something about starting out the day fresh…
I’ve gone thru quite a few phases when it comes to soaps and bath products. As a child, growing up – our house was a “Zest” house – that’s what was in the soap dish. There was my Bath and Body Works craze… brown sugar and vanilla or sun-ripened raspberry. There was the expensive department store counter stage and Clinique products… And since having children, the more simple, non-scented Aveeno toiletries from Target. I had almost forgotten that there was such a thing as a bar of soap.
My behavior as a believer is not unlike my my soap and cleanser phases. I’ve tried many many different ways to scrub away at my own sin, wondering if there might be something better out there. like good behavior; maintaining my church attendance, doing the right “religious” thing… keeping up the appearances that others expect. There are times I spend so much effort on these good works, I forget what I really need. But I’ve known from early on ; I remember hearing words quoted from Scripture on an old Children’s Bible Hour tape and they’ve been in my memory since.
Hear these words from Titus. They are good news for every soul.
Titus 3:4-6:
4 But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, 5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
His grace and mercy are the only things that save – His righteousness is the only way that my dirty, sinful heart can be scrubbed clean- washed and regenerated – for a fresh, new life in Christ. I don’t have to keep trying to use those other “man-made cleaners” – only His love and righteousness will do.
Heavenly Father, Thank you for this amazing, beautiful reminder this morning. My life is hopeless without your mercy and love. My heart is alive today because of the regenerating work in my heart. And I am grateful for this refreshing. amen.
daily portion 