“Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10).
Bill surveyed himself critically in the mirror. Yes, his skin had blemishes. Lots of them. He didn’t like the looks of
it at all.
“Why don’t you use some of my Fresh Start?” his sister, Mindy, asked. “It helped my face; it might help yours too.”
Bill had no interest in using any of the things his sister had in those tubes and jars and bottles on her dressing table. After all, he was not a sissy. Not a all.
“This is different,” his sister assured him. “It isn’t creamy, and it isn’t scented. It is just something that helps clean out the pores. It is medicated and helps clear up your skin.”
Bill decided to give it a try. After his shower he looked at the directions on the tube, and following them carefully, he spread a thin film of the cleansing gel on his face.
Mindy was right. It didn’t smell girlish at all, and is was not creamy on his face. It felt good, sort of tingling. It fact, after a few moments he decided that it stung a little bit, but he didn’t mind that, for it gave him the feeling that something was being accomplished for his skin. It made him think ho could feel the blemishes being drawn out.
It took weeks of attention to diet and meticulous skin care to clear up Bill’s problems, but every time he felt the stinging of the Fresh Start on his face, he was happy about the work that was being accomplished for his complexion and looked forward to the final results.
The beginning of the new year is the traditional time for people to look critically at their lives and make resolutions for a fresh start. Our characters may be like Bill’s skin—full of blemishes. But these blemishes can be cleared away by a fresh start in Jesus, who longs to do so if we will let Him. We have only to tell Him that we are willing to be changed and He will begin the work of cleansing our hearts and lives.
A fresh start in Jesus may sting a little as the imperfections of our characters are cleaned out. When this stinging comes, instead of fretting or becoming discouraged, we should rejoice that His cleansing power is working is us, purifying our hearts so that we will be able to serve Him better and reflect His love to others around us. Let us thank Him now for the opportunity He offers us for a fresh start.
Roselyn Edwards,
Start Here Directions For Young Christians, pg. 4 .
