There has long been a debate about which toilet paper is the best. According to the Chicago Tribune here is a graphic that will help lay out the field. What are the qualifications that you use for what suits you best? Is it durability? Is it the delicate balance of softness and strength? Is it simply septic safe?
I totally can understand why people would want to have a preference here. Ultimately, we want to know that in the end we will walk away clean. We want to know that the job is done. So, this list below, does it check out? Do you have some other brand that is not on here that you believe should be?
At the end of the day, we should be as concerned about our hearts, minds, and souls as much as we are about our toilet paper. When was the last time you took a hard look inside at the cleanliness of your heart, mind, and soul?
This week we will be looking at a moment in the life of David and Saul. We will see that at a very vulnerable moment in the cave, we see an act of restraint and a heart convicted in real time about what he (David) was about to do to Saul.
In preparation for this week, I urge you to take a look at Psalm 51:1-19.
As you read, reflect on the depth to which David is understanding his own sin and iniquity. Observe his desire for cleanliness and his utter dependence on God for it to happen. After you finish reading, interact with this one question at the bottom.
1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!
3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.
4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment.
5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.
6 Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.
7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice.
9 Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
11 Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.
13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you.
14 Deliver me from blood guiltiness, O God, O God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness.
15 O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.
16 For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering.
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
18 Do good to Zion in your good pleasure; build up the walls of Jerusalem;
19 then will you delight in right sacrifices, in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings; then bulls will be offered on your altar.
Which part of this hits home the most for you?
See you Sunday.
By Dan Bender