Happy Friday everyone, and happy All Saints Day! John Maxwell tells a funny story about a grandpa visiting his grandchildren. In the afternoon, Grandpa would take a nap and one day the grandkids decided to play a joke on grandpa, So they put Limburger cheese in his mustache. When he woke up, he started sniffing and he said, this room stinks. Then he went into the kitchen. It stinks in here too. Then he went outside for a breath of fresh air, and after a minute he said, the whole world stinks.

You know, that’s what the self-righteous person is like. They can sniff out the sins and shortcomings of everyone around them, and they think everyone stinks except them. But sometimes like John Maxwell says the stink is on you.

You know, the great reformer Martin Luther sniffed this out well when he described the difference between a real saint and a sham saint. He writes, “The difference between the true saints and the sham saints is this, the former see their transgressions and realize that they are not what they should be and want to be. Therefore, they judge themselves and are not concerned about others.

Which brings us to both our scripture for this weekend and our prayer. So would you pray along with me as I pray? Psalm 51, verses 1 to 12?

Let’s pray.

Prayer
Oh Lord, I recognize my rebellion. It haunts me day and night. Against you and you alone have I sinned. I’ve done what is evil in your sight. You will be proved right in what you say, and your judgment against me is just. Have mercy on me, oh God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, Blot out the stain of my sins. Wash me clean from my guilt, and purify me from my sin, For I recognize my rebellion. It haunts me day and night against you and you alone have I sinned.

I have done what is evil in your sight. You will be proved right in what you say, and your judgment against me is just, for I was born a sinner. Yes, from the moment my mother conceived me. But you desire honesty from the womb, teaching me wisdom even there. Purify me from my sins and I will be clean. Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Give me back my joy again. You have broken me, now let me rejoice. Don’t keep looking at my sins. Remove the stain of my guilt. Create in me a clean heart, oh, God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. Do not banish me from your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you.

Amen.