White Cushions and Muddy Paws

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. (1 John 1:8-10 ESV). We have a gray couch with different color cushions on it. There are three colors of cushions, white, gold, and maroon. While that sounds rather odd, they go very well together. Our problem is that our dog can come in with muddy paws from time to time. He is a terrier and does enjoy catching the moles in our yard! It is quite a sight to see him begin to dog furiously, stick his nose in the hole, and all of a sudden a little black object is thrown into the air and caught again before it hits the ground. While I don’t mind him ridding the yard of these pesky critters, it does make for dirty paws! When the dog comes inside, it is usually at a full run. He dashes through the back door and immediately runs to the couch, jumping on the cushions. I know that doesn’t represent very good training on my part; however, I would have you remember he is a terrier! The white cushions always seem to get dirtier than the others. However, if you look closely, you’ll see that they simply show the dirt more than the darker colors. Stains and dirt are just more noticeable against a white background. This causes me to think of the common belief among some who say they really don’t sin that much since they have become Christians. The truth is we are still sinners and need to recognize the need for confession daily. This confession doesn’t change the fact that we were forgiven in Christ; it does put us in a position to recognize the work of the Holy Spirit in our continued growth in Christ. So whether we think we need it, we still need to pray, "Forgive me my sins." Our reading today is very clear: If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. The more you have grown spiritually, the more aware you will become of your own sin. Against the “white” background of the holiness and perfection of Christ, it is very easy to see the muddy paw prints of life. A couple married for 15 years began having more than usual disagreements. They wanted to make their marriage work and agreed on an idea the wife had. For one month they planned to drop a slip in a "Fault" box. The boxes would provide a place to let the other know about daily irritations. The wife was diligent in her efforts and approach: "leaving the jelly top off the jar," "wet towels on the shower floor," "dirty socks not in hamper," on and on until the end of the month. After dinner, at the end of the month, they exchanged boxes. The husband reflected on what he had done wrong. Then the wife opened her box and began reading. They were all the same, the message on each slip was, "I love you!" Confess your sins to Him. His response is “I love you!”