It’s easy to get bogged down in the muck of the social conflict around us. This morning, I find myself reflecting upon the vast expanse of a three-letter word: all.
One element of the many debates storming and swirling around us is the over-application of this word. Generalizations about people of some lifestyle or another and hyper-application of stereotypes and prejudices are simply the norm on most every side of most every debate.
We are, it seems, bent on making blanket statements. But there is one that jumps out at me this morning. It is one absolutely perfect use of the word and its fullest, most complete understanding. It is the beautifully simple statement of John the Apostle who identified himself often as “the one whom Jesus loved.”
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)
That word, “all,” is absolute. When we come to God and simply agree with Him about our failings – accepting that what He says is sin truly is sin – we are cleansed from ALL unrighteousness.
