by Linda Veath

It was “get-the-dogs-bathed” day. The house was empty without them, so I was happy to get them back home. Not only were they shiny clean, they were soft to touch and smelled so much better than their usual dog smell.

As I sat enjoying the feel and smell of their soft clean hair, I was thankful for the fur therapy after a busy day.

My thoughts drifted and eventually found their way to how we Christians are bathed clean by the Spirit of God. We were once dirty in our sins but He washed them away, washed us clean. Not with soap and water like my dogs were bathed in. Instead we were bathed in the grace of God through Jesus’s shed blood. (Titus 3:4-5)

When God bathed us, He not only cleansed us but He started us on our journey of growing in His grace and in the fruit of His Spirit. (Galatians 5:22-23) That includes growing in gentleness. Softness. Our relationship with others becomes more compassionate, more caring, gentler. (1 Peter 3:15-16)

And when God washed away the stench of our sins, He filled us with the fragrance of the Holy Spirit. As we live our lives for Him, we become a pleasing aroma not only to Him but to the people we meet as well. (2 Corinthians 1:14-15) A sweet fragrance that could only have come from Him.

As I thought about these things, I had to smile. I enjoy my clean, soft, and fragrant dogs. But I’m quite sure God enjoys His cleansed, gentle and fragrant children even more.

Wow . . . all that from “get-the-dogs-bathed” day? It never ceases to amaze me what God uses in our lives to teach us and help us know Him better. All I could say was,

“Thank you, Lord, for bathing us in Your grace.”