Staying Clean on the Inside
by Gemma Gardner
I enjoy cooking, and it`s been a real treat to be able to use our electric cooker in our new home. But, when we moved to our new home last October, Dean told me that the cooker, which had been left by the previous owners, was in a terrible state and would need a thorough clean before it could be used. I was quite happy to wait for it to be cleaned. I have a microwave, a slow cooker, a soup maker and a toaster, so I knew we would be okay.
I noticed that the grill pan in the cooker was covered with tin foil. I thought that was good, as it would offer extra protection, but when Dean came to clean out the pan, he found layer upon layer of tin foil, covering a lot of congealed grease. It took Dean a long time to clean the pan, and we had to leave it soaking for quite a while to dissolve the build-up of fat.
Before we moved here, our home was rented out as bedsits with a communal kitchen and bathroom. Obviously, no-one wanted to clean the grill pan, so their way of dealing with it was to simply cover it up with another layer of tin foil, and it looked fine.
Right from the time when Adam and Eve disobeyed God’s command in the garden of Eden, and tried to cover themselves up, it’s always been a problem with the human race. When we feel guilty, we want to cover up or shift the blame, and, even as Christians, we can easily fall into this trap. The above verse urges us not to cover up our sins, but to confess and renounce them. God wants us to be clean on the inside, and He’s ready to show us mercy and forgive us when we own up to Him.
While we’re alive on earth, there will always be the need to confess and repent of sin as we become conscious of it. I’ll need to be diligent about keeping the grill pan and cooker clean and not let grease build up, but more importantly, every day I’ll need to come and confess my faults and sins to the Lord and ask Him to clean me up on the inside, as I try to live right on the outside.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, I’m conscious of my need to be cleansed on the inside. I want to be open with You and not try to hide my failures and sins. Please would You do Your work in me and make me more like You, Lord Jesus. I ask this for Your glory. Amen.
Gemma Gardner lives in Norfolk with her husband, Dean, who until recently worked at Ellel Grange. They are both part of the Associate Ministry team which Gemma joined after completing the Modular school. Gemma has experienced the Lord`s healing and restoration over many years and longs to see Him healing other broken people. Gemma loves listening to music, cooking, knitting and crochet as well as outdoor exercise. She enjoys playing guitar and singing worship songs.
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