No Stains

Bible Reading: Colossians 1:12-14; 1 Peter 1:18-21

“New and improved,” read Evie’s mom as she picked up a bottle of spot remover at the store. She grinned at Evie. “I saw this advertised on TV the other day. It’s supposed to work wonders. According to the satisfied customer in the commercial, it removes the most difficult stains.”

“Oh, could we try it on my blue shirt? Please?” asked Evie. “It’s got that spot that won’t come out. I try to hide it with my arm, but I can’t always keep my arm in the right place to cover the spot. Maybe this stuff would take it out.”

“Well, it’s not cheap,” said Mom. “But okay, I guess we can try it. Don’t get your hopes up too much, though. Just because you hear something on TV doesn’t mean it’s true.”

They took the spot remover home, and after carefully following the directions on the bottle, Evie washed the shirt. She was disappointed with the results. “I guess the money spent on that expensive stuff was wasted.” She shook her head. “I can’t believe it! They can launch rockets into space, but they can’t find a way to get this little spot out of my shirt.”

Mom laughed. “Nope. Their best efforts have failed.” She looked thoughtfully at the shirt. “You know, there’s another area where everyone’s best efforts fail.”

“Where’s that, Mom?” asked Evie.

“Everybody is born a sinner and does things that are wrong—it’s as though the stain of sin is on each person’s life,” Mom explained. “People often try to hide it by being good. Sometimes they manage to keep other people from seeing it, but it’s still there! There’s nothing a person can do to remove the stain of sin.”

“Nope,” said Evie, “but I know you’re going to point out there is something that can wash sin away. It’s the blood of Jesus.”

“You’re right,” said Mom. “God offers salvation freely to all who admit their need for Jesus and trust Him as their Savior. He alone can wash away our sin and make us clean.”

Evie nodded. “And we don’t have to pay a thing for our salvation. Jesus paid it all when He died on the cross to take the punishment we deserve.”

-Hazel W. Marett

How About You?

Did you know you were born a sinner? Every person sins against God by doing things that are wrong. Do you try to cover up your sin or get rid of it through your own efforts? You’ll never be able to do that. Sin can only be washed away by the blood of Jesus.
If you’ve been trying to hide your sin with good behavior, admit your failure today.
Trust in Jesus, and He will make you clean. (To learn more, click the “Good News!” button in the right column of this page.)

Today’s Key Verse:
Revelation 1:5 (NKJV) Jesus Christ…loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood.

Today’s Key Thought:

Jesus’s blood washes away sin