FROM SINNING TO SINGING.

Our Javanese village home lay close to the rice padis, so sometimes I left school lessons to walk in the fields. The local ladies, with their sarongs hitched into a knot at the waist, bent to plant the green rice seedlings in the flooded patch.

They always welcomed me, and this day called “ Awas “- Be careful- as I carefully stepped along the narrow path of hard soil, which divided each padi.

It appeared safe, but I slipped and fell down into the mud. Ugh! As I tried to squelch out of the mess, Sanikum and Ripkah came to my rescue and pulled me out of the mud, so that I could crawl safely to firm ground.

In the hot tropical sun, black mud soon dried like a cake on my cotton dress. With filthy hands, feet and sandals I hurried home, and into the bathroom. There I

dunked the tin bucket into the cement trough and threw cold water over my hot, sticky, muddy clothes and body.

Rukini, my helper, came to my rescue with a kettle of hot water, soap, and towel, so that I soon presented myself clean, and clothed in a fresh dress.

This homely story echoes some colourful scripture verses, where, not surprisingly, biblical writers often used real-life experiences to illustrate important principles.

King David often wrote from his own earthy times where he acknowledged his sin, which now he graphically describes as “slime “, and from which God delivered him.

“ He lifted me up out of slimy pit, out of the mud and mire. He set my feet on a rock, and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of

praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord. “ (Psalm 40:2,3)

God’s grace brought David from the slime of sin to salvation singing.

He brought me up. The Lord Jesus rescued me from the slimy pit of sin.

He cleaned me up. The Lord Jesus cleansed me by His precious blood.

He set me up. My rock, Jesus Christ, is an unshakeable foundation.

He kept me up. The Holy Spirit is my daily helper.

He tuned me up. I sing praise to God with a thankful heart.

He fired me up. A holy life is to be a testimony to God’s grace, so that

others will understand salvation.

Do you identify with David?

Saved by God’s grace.

Gwenda Steward.