“What a
rotten design,” I grumbled, as I emptied our paper shredder. I was following
good advice about shredding personal documents, but I could not empty the
container without spilling strips of confetti all over the carpet! One day as I
was gathering trash, I debated whether I’d even bother since it was only
half-full. But when I slipped a small plastic bag over the top and flipped it
upside down, I was pleased to see that not a bit of paper had fallen on the
floor.
The error
had been mine. I had been waiting until the container was filled to the brim
before emptying it!
When we
allow sin to fill up our hearts, it too will overflow into our life. Luke 6:45
says that “an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth
evil.” It is “out of the abundance of the heart” that we speak.
What if
we were to empty our hearts of the rubbish of sin before it started spilling
into our interactions with others? To dispose of our bitterness, stubborn
pride, seething anger? (Eph. 4:26-32). First John
1:9 reminds us that “if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just
to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
A paper
shredder is designed to be a rubbish receptacle. You and I are not!
Own up to
your mistakes —you can’t hide them from God anyway! (RBC)
