Let’s Give a Shout Out!
Routine was in order as we ordered our footsteps. A little cleaning here, a little laundry there, reorganizing the cupboards and it all added up. The rainy day allowed us to catch up on a few things here and there.
I was on duty at the laundry station when a recently purchased sweatshirt was pulled from the pile. Upon review, the discolored fabric was noted as the brownish tones blending in circular fashion were obvious. I have nothing against the brownish tones lest the color of the garment is supposed to be green. Taking a closer look, there was no mistaking the big stain front and center!
“What’s that?” I questioned the one who’d placed the garments into the machine.
As we looked around the room trying to figure out what had gone wrong, his defensive posturing spoke. “I always use SHOUT to get the stains out and today was no different!”
Grabbing proof was easy. Hoisting high a white bottle with a red cap as evidence—he soon became speechless! This particular white bottle with a red cap had the word OUT on it, but added to it was the word RUST. “RUST OUT” did the job alright, but along with the stain, it took the color right on OUT!
Gone was the green—forever! Gone now, too, was the bottle of Rust Out—as it was placed high upon the shelf so there would be no repeat offenses.
We learned. We learned that we must be careful with things that look like the real deal but are not. In our case, it was an easy fix as we have the means to replace it. But sometimes, it’s not all that easy. Sometimes, there is more damage than we thought possible. Jesus spoke about this in Matthew 7:15. He warned, “Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.” We think it would be obvious to tell the difference between a wolf and a sheep. After all, wolves are predators—ravenous. They want what their appetites satisfied by justifying that which fits their passions. Ravenous can turn what needs to be confessed into a picnic of justifying the choices we cling to.
I suppose it’s at that point, we can either give a “SHOUT” to the One who can help out. By turning towards Him and away from sin. Or, we can continue the cover-up.
So, which will it be? Do we give a “SHOUT?” Or will we “Rust Out” as we go about our own business rather than His? Ephesians 1:4 serves as a reminder. “For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight.”
A “Shout Out” is mere confession to the One who has an open line 24/7. He awaits not to shame, but to lift the burden we were never meant to carry. Amen.
Kathleen Kjolhaug
Picture: Magnific
This article was first published in Theology in the Trenches, a column written by Kathleen Kjolhaug. Posted with permission. Read more articles on her blog, Theology in the Trenches.
