Clean & Sanitized!

"Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive

to God in Christ Jesus."  Romans 6:11

Eight-year-old Maggie was excited to help her mother empty the dishwasher. Noticing the red indicator light signaling that the washer had completed its cycle, Maggie exclaimed to her mom, "Oh, look, Mom, the dishes are CLEAN & SANCTIFIED!"

Mom chuckled at Maggie's misreading, but was pleased that the pastor's sermon the previous Sunday had obviously had some impact on young Maggie's mind.

Later that evening during family devotions, mom and dad pulled out the supplemental children's paper that the church provided for kids to write on while following the pastor's message. He had spoken from Romans 6 on the topic of sanctification. On one side of the page Maggie had drawn a

stick person in chains standing behind bars with the jailer (another stick figure) standing outside the prison with a scowl on his face daggling the keys in front of him. On the other side of the page, Maggie had drawn a stick figure with a huge smile on his face, unshackled, and helping a down-cast friend (another stick figure) carry a heavy load.

When dad asked Maggie to tell them about her picture, Maggie explained while pointing to her drawing, "This man in prison is enslaved to sin, just like Pastor O'Donald said on Sunday and this man over here, the one smiling and helping, is free. He serves God, so he is loving someone else."

Mom and Dad looked at each other in wonder, thrilled that Maggie was assimilating pieces of Bible doctrine.

"That's right, Maggie," Dad affirmed. Sin keeps us in prison, but Jesus offers us freedom from sin through the shed blood of His cross. When we ask Jesus to forgive our sins and come into our lives, we have a new Master. We no longer need to serve sin; we are free to serve God by loving and helping others know Him! Our slates are clean before God and we are set apart to live for Him."

That night, Mom tucked Maggie into bed. Reaching over to turn off her light, Maggie winked at Mom. "You know, Mom, I'm so glad I'm CLEAN AND SANITIZED!"

"Why you little joker!" Mom said, laughing and tickling Maggie until she squealed for Mom to stop. "Yes, Maggie, I'm so glad you are too!"