Open That Soap

I have done a lot of stupid things in my life.

Some of them because of foolish youthfulness, some because of ignorance, some due to zeal without knowledge, and some from being over-tired.

Once in Zambia I got tired of the state of our garden, and dove in full force without gloves to weed it. I ended up with caterpillar stingers all through my right hand, because they were clustered all over the stems of some of the weeds. If I had taken a few minutes to think and plan, I would have avoided several days’ worth of pain. 

My most recent stupid thing was just yesterday. Now, in my defense, I was operating on 2 hours of sleep and had been traveling all day. By the time I was ready to wash my face before bed I was TIRED.

My bathroom had a bar of soap in a plastic package. I took it out and tried to wash my hands. I rubbed it around and held it under the water. No suds, no nothing. It felt slick and kinda weird, but my hands didn’t feel clean. So I examined the package and thought maybe the ‘glycerine’ made it weird.

So I tried to wash my hands again. Still nothing. At this point I decided to examine the actual bar of soap itself. 

It was wrapped in more plastic.

I know. Duh, right?

When I took off the wrapper and put it under the water this time- suds!! My hands got clean, and I felt refreshed!! (And I laughed so hard at myself. I mean, come on, that was pretty dumb.)

But it made me think. Sometimes I carry my Bible around with me but don’t actually take the time to read it. I have the best of intentions but get distracted by other things.

Did you know just touching the Bible doesn’t make you clean? Carrying it around with you doesn’t fill you with knowledge, either. You can carry it around and look spiritual, but you actually have to OPEN it and EXAMINE it for it to work.

Lord help me get in Your Word and examine it, and not just carry it around. Thank You that it cleans and refreshes!!

Colossians 1:10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God.

Proverbs 20:9 Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?

Ephesians 5:25-27 
25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.