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by Dennis Wheeler
I love buffets!! All that food...all those choices...yummy! One of my favorite buffets is the breakfast bar at Shoney's...double yummy! Now, one thing you learn real quick at any buffet is that each time you make a trip to the buffet you must get a clean plate. Most city Health Departments require clean plates with each trip to the buffet.
Yet every day many of us step up to God's banquet table with a dirty plate, and then wonder why we aren't being served. You see, Jesus also insists on a clean plate for everyone. Maybe you'll recall these words from Matthew 9:13..."Before you go to the altar, go and make peace with your brother." In other words...don't come into My House with a dirty plate.
So, in order to experience God's power fully, it is vital that we let our family, friends and co-workers start with a clean plate each day. Are you holding a grudge? Harbor resentment? Carrying some anger you had with them yesterday or last year? We are encouraged not to let the sun set on our anger. In other words, wash the dishes before we go to bed!!
We must start each day with a clean plate. Our plate is our 'conscience'. Is it clean? Are there some unwashed portions - even on the underside?
Our plate is our 'heart'. Are we harboring grunge-filled resentments or clumps of baked-on anger as we continually ask for second helpings? Have we forgiven ourselves?
Jesus could not have motivated His team if He had not given each of them a clean plate.
Former prostitute? No problem! You will become My example of precious, holy love.
Former coward? No problem! You will become a legendary leader.
Former skeptic? No problem! You (Paul) will go on to declare the Gospel in new and exciting ways.
Clean plate! Clean plate! Clean plate!
The reason that buffets insist on clean plates to reduce the risk of germs, disease and sickness. Well, the danger of having the grunge of resentment on your plate is the poison that can come from it.
I tend to be a slow learner! And I have finally come to understand that the only one hurt by my anger or resentment is ME. If I hold onto it, thinking the other person is being punished, I'm fooling myself! Resentment & anger are full of disease-causing germs!
That's why Jesus said we had to get rid of it - not only so the object of our anger could be set free, but more important, so we can.
Every person who comes to Jesus Christ is given a new, bright clean plate (heart & conscience)! No leftover sins...unwashed resentment...half-baked disappointments are on the plates that He hands out at His banquet!
Come to Him...step up to the 'heavenly buffet'...He'll give you a clean plate every time!!
He serves as the Senior Pastor with southwest Virginia church... a loving church family in Abingdon.
He and his wife Sharon have been married for over 27 years and are the proud parents of two beautiful daughters, one son-in-law, and two precious grandchildren, the second arrived arrived on the scene in September 2004!!
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