Whiter than snow

     The first snow has finally made it's way to Illinois.  Not a big deal to my Illinois friends, but to this Texan it is a sight to see.  I have seen snow before, but normally in Texas it will dry up fairly quick once the temperature hits 70 by mid morning.  Anyway it is beautiful to see the white snow covering the ground. 

     My dogs are having a hard time knowing what to do with the snow.  When the first snow came and my Lab Toby needed to do his business, he did not know what to do.  As he ran out in the snow to find his familiar location he was confused.  Suddenly the scent had changed and the markings had changed as well.  He sniffed and circled, but could not find a spot to go.  Finally, nature won out and he was able to take care of his business.  My chihuahua, not that is a different story.  I want take time to talk about her on this blog.

     Seeing Toby walk in the snow and struggle with his old markings reminded me of something in the Scripture.  I know what you are thinking, what kind of warp mind do I have, that a dog doing his business in the snow would lead me to a spiritual truth.

     After David had committed his terrible sins he cried out to God to forgive him his transgressions.  In Psalm 51:7 David cries out "Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow."  David desired that God would wipe the slate clean and he would once again be clean.

     That is what God does when we ask God to forgive us of our sins.  He washes us whiter than snow.  When we go to look back for the traces of our sinfulness, it is no longer there.  We can sniff and circle and scratch all we want, but our sins have been washed whiter than snow.  It is a wonderful concept when you consider the filth of our own sins and how much God has to wash away.  Why not use David's prayer as your prayer and ask God to wash you and make you whiter than snow.  Read his words again:

1 Have mercy on me, O God,

according to your unfailing love;

according to your great compassion

blot out my transgressions.

2 Wash away all my iniquity

and cleanse me from my sin.

3 For I know my transgressions,

and my sin is always before me.

4 Against you, you only, have I sinned

and done what is evil in your sight,

so that you are proved right when you speak

and justified when you judge.

5 Surely I was sinful at birth,

sinful from the time my mother conceived me.

6 Surely you desire truth in the inner parts;

you teach me wisdom in the inmost place.

7 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;

wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

8 Let me hear joy and gladness;

let the bones you have crushed rejoice.

9 Hide your face from my sins

and blot out all my iniquity.

10 Create in me a pure heart, O God,

and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

11 Do not cast me from your presence

or take your Holy Spirit from me.

12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation

and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

May God richly bless you and make you whiter than snow.  And may you experience the amazing grace of knowing that your sins have been removed.