Ephesians 5:1-2 – Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. (NIV)

Walking one day recently in the park, I was amazed and ashamed to see the number of pop cans and the volume of litter some have left to mar God's beautiful world. I guess some expect that someone else will come along to clean up their mess after them.

Then I was reminded of the story of a policeman in a Scottish town who noticed, as he walked his beat, an old woman going along, stopping every few steps to pick something up from the street. He went up to her and asked just what she was doing. Her reply was, "Oh, I am just picking up the wee bits of broken glass when I see them, for fear the wee bairns might cut themselves when they come out to play."

What a contrast in attitude: leaving a mess for others, or cleaning up the world to make it safe for those who will come after us. Many of us wonder where our world is headed and wring our hands in worry. Perhaps it would be better to do what little we can to make it better for our children and their children! We can be part of the problem or part of the solution. Certainly Jesus did what only He could to make the world a safer and cleaner place for us. Can we do less?

Prayer: Dear Jesus, as you gave your life so long ago that we might be free from sin in our time, so help us to see the things that we can do this day to help those who will come after us years from now to be free from grief and sin and its consequences. Amen.

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