Compiled by: Georgeanne Falstrom, Intern
PARISH LAY MINISTRY ACADEMY
TABLE OF CONTENTS

MONDAY, APRIL 10, 2006
(Ps 51,69; Lam 1:1-2; 2Cor 1:1-7; Mark 11:12-25)


“GOD'S SPRING CLEANING "
By: Georgeanne Falstrom

Scripture: “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin." Ps 51:1-2
"Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit to sustain me." PS 51:10-12


King David, God’s chosen servant, had sinned. He had broken God’s commandments BIG TIME. He had coveted his neighbor’s wife, committed adultery with her, bore false witness against her husband and had him killed. That’s four of them in one act of sinful disobedience.David had disappointed the one who truly loved him like a son. What would the consequences be? Could he ever be forgiven and his relationship to God restored? Have you ever felt that way?

David loved God with all his heart. He depended on the Lord for his safety and protection from all of his enemies and praised God for all of his triumphs. Yet with one glance into another’s apartment, he gave in to a sinful nature and put lustful desires and immediate gratification above the God he had worshiped with all his heart.

This powerful king believed God was merciful. He had experienced God’s answering his prayers. He took the position of a humbled and contrite servant and honestly poured his heart out to the Lord in this beautiful Psalm, asking for forgiveness, a willing spirit, and complete reconciliation. He wanted to be cleansed from this sin he had committed and bathed in God’s righteousness.

We all sin and fall short of the goal, don’t we? I struggle daily with sinful desires and temptation. Paul describes our struggles with our sinful nature in Romans 7-8. “For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. He condemned sin in sinful man in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature, but according to the Spirit.” (Rom 8:3-4)

Yes, we have confidence in our salvation because of the Cross. The message of Easter is God’s personal spring house cleaning in our lives. We open ourselves to the Lord to get rid of our internal cobwebs and dust bunnies to make room for a renewed spirit within us, through Christ.

Prayer: Loving, merciful Father who created us and knows our every thought and desire, we praise you for understanding our sinful natures and offer of salvation through your Son’s death on the cross and resurrection. As we reflect on Christ’s path to Calvary and the empty tomb, let us understand the true meaning of the sacrifice he made on our behalf. Cleanse our hearts and minds to be open to your will. Pour out your blessings on us as we repent and offer up to you our lives in service.