Unclean Lips

“You have something on your face right. . .there,” I pointed at my face in the approximate position my girl needed to wipe her face.

 

“No I don't,” she shook her head and stamped her foot.

 

Anger flashed in my eyes and my heart clenched. I took a quick breath.

 

“Father help me,” I whispered. Then I asked her to come to me.

 

I cupped my hand around her ear and whispered angry, “When you say no to me, you are calling me a liar. I do not lie.”

 

James 3:2 flitted through my mind. “We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says he is a perfect man able to keep his whole body in check.”

 

Suddenly I felt like I needed to wipe my mouth, but napkins, wipes, or wash cloths could not get it clean. I am at fault in what I say, often. I am a woman of unclean lips. The good news is I have a God who forgives me.

 

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9

 

God not only forgives this woman of unclean lips, but he also purifies me. Every year I am more and more convinced of how desperately I need God and apart from Him I can do nothing good.

 

So I asked God to forgive me and my unclean lips. He not only forgave me, but he wiped my filthy lips clean.

 

Later I talked to my girl and asked her to forgive me for my angry words.

 

She did.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Angela Mackey

Author and Speaker

Angela is a stumbling woman in need of God’s scandalous grace. Through faith in Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, she bears the name Christian. She speaks and writes to make much of this God, His only Son, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit who lives in her. She graduated college with a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing and is a Registered Nurse. She also obtained her Masters of Arts in Biblical and Theological Studies through Knox Theological Seminary.