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Being the Maddy (mummy-daddy) I daily empty out the washing machine. I wipe around the rubber flexible seal that connects the washing machine drum and door. Courtesy of the detergent, grease and crud sticks to the rubber during the course of a family’s washing week, as well as the odd coin.
If left untreated the scum starts to accumulate giving off an unpleasant aroma, develop mould and will even penetrate the rubber below the surface!
I had a text request from a friend today who sought my prayers. He is involved with helping children in society. He was emotionally distraught by the rawness of the task he has chosen to serve God through his role working for the local county council. Apart from upholding him in my prayers, I suggested that he remembered to put on the armour of God before he stepped out into the world at the beginning of the day.
Later on, as I emptied the washing machine, I thought that this scum I was removing reminded me of these situations of worldly abomination we can be exposed to; Jesus is happy for us to cry out to Him (See Jeremiah 31:31) to be with us through them. Even in a crowded room we can call out to Jesus within our inner self. He will deliver us from all the coated scum or show us another way. Jesus came to show us a way to be purified from the world and ultimately from evil’s intent to separate us from the Love of God. Whether or not the task is of our choosing, we do not have to carry the burden of scum being in the world on our own. His Love for us is the guide which challenges us to walk with Him through the day. Sometimes we can forget that.
Being in the world, is not an easy calling. I found that tending to others, day-in and day-out, will lead to burn-out unless we make the time for ourselves to abide in the presence of Jesus. Jesus incarnate set His example of spending time aside, to be alone with God, to pray and wait to seek His Father’s will! I no longer have the capacity to carry the load without Jesus these days. Possibly I have learnt something, or maybe I am more in need than before because I am less able in body, mind and spirit? For me keeping in Jesus, is a gift from God; one that I try to pass on to those who will also make the time for it. "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me." (John 15:4 ESV)
Prayer: LORD, today come and abide in us; fill us up with Your Holy Faith, Hope and Love, in Jesus’ name, amen.
Roderick Marshall
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