Are you ashamed of your past? - 9 February 2024

For 25 years, the local residents of Besançon, a village in the southwest of France, wondered what happened to their golden weathercock, on top of an outdoor Roman Catholic cross, when it disappeared overnight.

The secret was unravelled when the thief recently sent the metal bird in a package to the historian, Michel Sabatery. The police identified the thief and paid him a visit. The man shamefully confessed that as a young, drunk student, he had stolen the weathercock. After sobering up, he was too ashamed to return it and had hidden it in his basement. When he cleared out the basement, he decided to make amends with the past.

The weathercock was returned to the church where, during a special ceremony, it was placed back in its former spot.

Sometimes, we find ourselves trapped in something from our past that we are ashamed of – theft, an extramarital affair, an addiction. Or perhaps, we have said or done something that has caused someone else great pain.

The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from any sin when we truly repent. In Hebrews 10:22 we read: “… let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.”

What “metal birds” are you hiding in your basement? Bring it to God. He cleanses us from the past. He enables us to step into the future with new courage and faith. God bless.

Prayer: Father God, thank you very much for setting me free. Today, I bring (mention what you are ashamed of) to you. Please set me free today. I ask this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen