The One Thing God Doesn’t See
Gwen Smith
Today’s Truth
Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit,
perfecting holiness out of reverence for God (2 Corinthians 7:1).
Friend to Friend
When my three children were young, it was a challenge to keep track of where they were at all times. My husband and I baby proofed the house /as best we could, used gates and did our best. I’ll never forget the day that Preston and Kennedy were accounted for in the playroom, but Hunter had wandered off. I called for him, but got no response.
* call for; To say in a loud voice
Curious, I headed /for the front staircase and listened /for his little two-year-old voice. I checked his bedroom – no Hunter.
I checked Preston’s room – no Hunter. I checked Kennedy’s room – no Hunter. By now, my heart was racing and I was growing concerned. As I headed /into my bedroom, I began to hear faint noises /from the master bathroom. Our bathroom mirror gave me all the information //that I needed… Hunter had gotten /into my red lipstick.
It. Was. Everywhere!
I wanted to laugh. I wanted to cry!
He was unaware of my presence /as he continued his creative red-lipstick artwork /on my walls and on the linen closet door. I quickly crossed the threshold of the bathroom door and confronted my little chubby-cheeked, red lipstick-all-over-his-face boy.
And you know what he did?
He hid his scandalous red tool /behind his back … thinking I was none the wiser.
As. If.
I asked him what he was doing. “Nothing,” he said with his lips - although his face and my bathroom clearly said otherwise.
In my best trying-not-to-laugh mommy voice, I asked him a series of questions and he continued to deny any wrongdoing.
Gah!
This sets my heart to wonder … how many times have I’ve gone /before the Lord /in prayer /holding a tube of red lipstick /behind my back? How many times have I – and do I – think I’m pulling one over on HIM?
Just as simply as I saw the tangible evidence of Hunter’s red-lipsticked face, God sees my heart and knows what I’ve been up to. He knows what we’ve all been up to.
He sees invisible heart matters like pride, anger, and bitterness.
* pull one over on someone; to deceive someone.
He sees un-forgiveness, un-confessed sins, the habits () we cling to, the shows () we watch, the gossip () we speak or listen to, the private texts and conversations //that are happening on social media, and the books () we read that don’t honor Him.
He sees our failures, every last one of them, and lovingly invites us to allow Him to clean up the messes () we’ve made.
[The only thing () God doesn’t see] is our sins //that have been forgiven.
Even when you and I fail God, His love and faithfulness never fails us.
The Bible calls you and me /to a higher level of living. A higher level of holiness: in Christ.
“Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves /from everything //that contaminates body and spirit,
perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.” (2 Corinthians 7:1)
Before the messy sins and secrets in our lives can be cleaned up, our red lipsticks need to be tossed.
We all have them, you know.
Take a moment to search your heart.
What’s your red lipstick today? Are you ready to hand it over to God?
Let’s Pray
Dear God, please forgive me for the things in my life //that I’ve kept from You or try to hide from You. You deserve better from me. Help me eliminate everything in my life and in my heart that “contaminates my body and spirit.” I want to reflect Your holiness.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.