A Cup of Grace – with a shot of espresso

Maybe you’re one of those people who have your life together to the point that you never skip flossing.  I am not.  I KNOW it’s an important habit to acquire.  I’ve heard that gum health has effects far beyond my mouth. I know that it affects the future of my teeth, and if I’m honest, I really want to keep my own set until I die. 

But… for me it has always been a struggle.  Oh, I am significantly better at it than I used to be. Not perfect but much improved.  In part, this is due to the consequences of NOT making it a priority in earlier years. Now, as a result, I am far more likely to get things hung in my teeth.  (That’s a blow to the self image, let me tell you!  You go to the bathroom only to discover that you have broccoli in your teeth, and you ate three hours ago and have smiled at dozens of people since!) 

For years before though, I didn’t have that problem.  So flossing was rarely top of my mind.  Falling into bed as fast as possible took priority, and flossing took a whole extra minute! Besides, I brushed. 

Then, not long ago, I heard someone who was talking about dental health explain the value of flossing even when you don’t have food between your teeth.  She said that flossing disrupts the plaque that is trying to form. I couldn’t see the plaque, but it was there busily doing its destructive little work – day after day. When I flossed, I was slowing that process. 

As I said earlier, I have become more consistent in my flossing.  But my gums and teeth have suffered damage from my earlier neglect. 

As I thought about this though, I realized that flossing daily is really a good illustration for confessing our sins to our Heavenly Father. Sins..you know, the daily crud that builds up in our hearts, the little things: an unkind word, a critical thought, a prideful moment, a grudge held, unforgiveness justified, an impatient me-first attitude — yeah, all that…plaque. 

They’re so little that ignoring those sins is easy as is believing that they are not that big a deal.  Each day is new, right? Sort of.  When we fail to confess those sins, they don’t go away.  They cling to hearts like plaque to our teeth. Over time, they become habits that can be very destructive to our relationships with those we love as well as our relationship with God. They DO affect who we become over the years. 

However, when we “floss” daily, when we cry out to God and confess our shortcomings, He can and will truly give us a new start. I must warn you: when this becomes a part of your daily conversation with God, He begins to convict you much closer to the point of the sin. When you first start, you may have to wrack your brain for your shortcomings.  We aren’t very good at recognizing them because we are excellent at justifying them. With time and practice, we become much more sensitive to His voice. He doesn’t allow us to wallow around in them for very long.  

We can’t hide our sins from God even if nobody else may see them. Many of my sins are sins of the heart and mind, attitudes and thoughts that are easily disguised. However, Proverbs 21:2 reminds us that “Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the heart.” He is not fooled by our justifications. And sin always has consequences. If not dealt with, eventually “small sins” will take root and blossom into ugliness. My unforgiveness, if left alone, will become bitterness, and that bitterness, over time, will leak out and poison my relationships with others in small ways. 

God loves us with our morning breath and in our sin. (“But God demonstrates his love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ DIED for us.” Romans 5:8 NKJV ) But He doesn’t want us stay there because it isn’t good for us. In fact, Hebrews 12: 5b-6 says it this way, “My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; For whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives.” (NKJV) God’s love for us compels Him to root out what would destroy us. 

When we willingly come to Him seeking his cleansing forgiveness and correction, we open our hearts. We exhibit our trust in Him. Correction is rarely easy to take, but when we know the heart that it comes from is pure and good, we can relax our grip and rest. The refining He does has beautiful results. I promise! You will like the person you become, for you will become more like Him.

So yes, I want you to join me in trying to floss more consistently, but the habit that is really more important is the flossing of your heart through confession and repentance.  Will you join me in this habit? When we do this, our smiles can take on the brighter shine of His authentic love. 

If we confess our sin, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sin and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

I John 1:9 NKJV