The Blotting

2 Corinthians 5:19 "For God was in Christ, restoring the world to himself, no longer counting men’s sins against them, but blotting them out.  This is the wonderful message he has given us to tell others."

Oh no, I thought, I’ll never get this stain out.  I had been walking with a friend when one of the dogs jumped up and accidentally scratched her.  The scratch drew blood and as I was helping her staunch the flow, my cream coloured shirt brushed against the wound and stained the cuff.

Oh well, I told myself, it’s just a shirt, don’t sweat it.  I was however disappointed as it was a beautiful shirt, one which I wore frequently and really liked.

Later that evening, as I was examining the stain I remembered some spot remover that was sitting on my laundry shelf.  Retrieving the bottle I read the directions which stated: spray on stain and blot.  Mmmm, sounds simple enough, but will it really work?  Seeing as I had nothing to lose and hopefully everything to gain, I decided to try it.  I sprayed it on and then with a clean white paper towel, I began to blot.  Presto, the blood began to come off.  I sprayed and blotted again and then again and each time more blood was absorbed by the towel until all of it had been transferred from my shirt to the blotting paper.

Needless to say I was extremely happy.

Likewise, God has made a similar provision for all mankind in regards to their sin.  Through his Son, Jesus Christ, who died on the cross, our sins are blotted out.  The consequence for them, which is spiritual death, was transferred from us onto Christ, whose blood covers them in God’s sight, leaving us spiritually cleansed or holy before Him.

What an incredibly marvellous action of love.  And this blotting out of our sins is a totally free gift from God.  All we need to do to claim it is to sincerely ask Christ to forgive us our sin by repenting of it:  saying we are sorry and that we believe in what He did on the cross for us and accepting it by faith.

Perhaps today you are feeling in despair about a sin or sins that you believe have ruined your life, your future.  Perhaps they are sins which you feel can never be blotted out; they are too great, too heinous.  If so then I have good news for you.  These sins have already been paid for by Christ.  All our sin, past, present and future was paid for through the shedding of His blood on the cross at Calvary.  So why not take a moment right now and confess them to Christ, repent of them and by faith trust in His power to blot out the guilt of your sin and give you the fresh, clean start you’re longing for.  After all you have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Prayer:  Father God, thank you so much for the power of the blood of the Lamb, which takes away the sin of the world.  May each of us this day remember to choose to embrace its’ ability to blot out the guilt of our sin, as we take time to confess, repent and by faith accept its cleansing power.  In Christ’s name we ask.  Amen

Lynne Phipps
Atlin, B.C.