Take Out the Trash

Read: Psalm 103:12; Micah 7:19

Dad closed the trunk of the car. “Okay, everything’s packed. Let’s go!”

“Wait!” Mom called. “Aria and Nolan, please empty the trash in the bedrooms and kitchen before we leave.”

“I’ll get the bedrooms,” Aria said.

Nolan went to the kitchen and glanced at the trash bag. It wasn’t even full. I’ll empty it when we get back, he thought, and ran to claim his spot in the car.

A few hours later, they pulled into the hotel parking lot. “It looks like a windstorm tore through here,” Mom said. “Cans are tipped over with trash scattered everywhere.”

Dad nodded. “Maybe some racoons had a party.”

“Speaking of trash…” Mom looked into the back seat. “Was the garbage emptied?”

“Yup,” Aria proudly announced.

There was a long silence, and Dad looked at Nolan in the rearview mirror. “How about you?”

“It was only half full,” Nolan said. “I thought it could wait.”

“Oh no!” said Mom. “I threw out some spoiled food this morning.” She sighed. “I wish you had done what I asked you to, Nolan. In a couple days, the kitchen is going to smell like a garbage dump!”

“This reminds me of a true story,” Dad said. “Forty years ago, the city of Philadelphia had a huge garbage problem. The trash collectors went on strike, and trash piled up in the whole city and smelled horrible for twenty days!”

“Gross!” Aria wrinkled her nose.

“They decided to burn the garbage, load the ash onto a ship, and sail it away. The ship sailed to several different countries, but no one would take the ash.”

“Well, at least we don’t have that much trash in our kitchen,” Nolan said.

“No, but sin is like garbage we can’t get rid of ourselves,” Dad replied. “But unlike that ship, we know someone who’s always willing to take it away if we ask Him.”

The answer was easy. “Jesus,” Nolan said. “We can confess our sin to Him, and He’ll take out the trash and make us clean.” He sighed. “I’m sorry I messed up and didn’t obey you. I’ll take out the trash the minute we get home.”

Dad grinned. “By then, you’ll need a fly swatter, mask, and gloves!”

–Matt Shoemaker

How about you? Is there a stinky sin weighing on your heart? Do you have trash in your life that needs to be taken out? Ask Jesus to remove it. He died and rose again to save you from sin and is always willing to take out your trash. When you confess your sin to Him, He will gladly forgive you and take it far away!

Today’s key verse: If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9 (NKJV)

Today’s key thought: Jesus takes our trash