I looked up along the lakeshore and saw a three- or four-year-old boy walking out of the water. He was wet well beyond his knees and muddy nearly as far. His mother was not impressed.
“What are you doing? Why were you in the water? Answer me! “
“I was..”
“Don’t interrupt! You’re all wet and filthy! What did I tell you?”
Finally, the boy had an opportunity to get a word out.
“But mom, you said don’t get my new shoes dirty. I didn’t! They’re over by the bench. I took them off so I wouldn’t get them dirty. Just like you said, Mom.”
I smiled and laughed as the mom sputtered some explanation about leaving the shoes on the shore not being what she had meant. She didn’t seem as amused.
We’re often like the little boy looking to get off on some technicality. We try to achieve superficial holiness or partial obedience in our faith walk. We try to rationalize that “we’re not as bad” as someone else or that “we can’t help it.”
We may hear a call from God to do something and then come up with excuses for why we can’t or why we must have been mistaken about hearing from God.
The same behavior that made me laugh at the little boy and his mother isn’t nearly as funny when we do it to God. I believe God has a sense of humor and laughs, but never about sin.
Christ is a perfect example of someone meeting all the technicalities of the law but not being right before God. He was obedient, even unto death on a cross.
God examines our hearts. Our hearts are not pure, and our flesh isn’t willing.
Fortunately, believers have the Word to teach us and The Spirit to guide us. We are works in process, and God will finish what He started in us,
King David was a man who struggled and sinned greatly. Yet, he understood the value of repentance and having a clean heart before God.
Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! Psalm 51:1-3 ESV
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. Psalm 51:17 ESV
David understood that God examines our hearts. Have you checked yours lately? Is it soft toward the Lord, or has it grown hard?
Are you looking for excuses or seeking ways to follow Him better?
Until next time, may you bring glory to God through a humble, contrite heart.
Be blessed
Hallelu Yah / Praise God
Kevin