A Pause to Ponder God's Word
"You Can't Play in the Mud Puddle and Not Get Dirty."

My mother had dressed me all up in my special white Easter suit. As I walked proudly out the door to head for the church, located right next door, my mom called out, "Now be careful not to get dirty." It had rained the night before and there was a mud puddle on our lawn. I could have easily walked around the puddle, but I was a superman third grader you know. I could easily leap over wide mud puddles in a single bound. So with lightening speed I ran toward the puddle. Reaching its outer edge I leapt into the air. I soared high and far, but, unfortunately, not far enough. I came down a couple of inches short of the opposite edge. My feet hit the slippery mud and flew out from under me. I am sure that I turned as white as my, not to be white for long, suit. I feel backward into the mud puddle. I didn't cry. I saved that for what would come when my parents saw what I had done. I learned some valuable lessons that day. One of them is; you can't play in the mud puddle and not get dirty.

There is a great spiritual truth here. Somewhere along the line we have been duped into thinking that we are not affected by what we participate in, listen to, watch, read, and expose ourselves. We arrogantly think we can involve ourselves in things that are "worldly" without them affecting us. So, we carelessly go on our way, listening, watching, reading, and participating in things that are contrary to the way of Christ, all the while believing that it won't affect us. But as I learned that one Easter morning, we can't play in the mud puddle and not get dirty. Or as evangelist Norman Moore succinctly put it, "Whatever we expose ourselves to, is going to have an influence on us."

Paul puts it this way; "You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by the deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and put on the new self, created to be like God in righteousness and holiness. --- For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of the darkness, but rather expose them. Be very careful, then, how you live not as unwise, but as wise." (Ephesians 4:22-24, 5:8, 11)

We do not have full control of what we are exposed to. We live in the world that is full of sin. We cannot isolate ourselves from the world. Jesus said we are in this world, but not of it. We are the light to the world which cannot shine unless we are out there living holy by His grace. Nevertheless, we do have control on what we read, what we watch, places we go, things we do, and what we listen to. We may not be able to control what is said on the radio, but we can turn it off so. We may not have control of watch is shown on television, but we do not have to watch it. We may not be able to censor all books and magazines that are ungodly and worldly, but we do not have to read them. We may not be able to control the content of videos, but we do not have to watch them.

The point is clear. Wise living avoids anything that is unchristlike or may be detrimental to growth in Christ. Wise people put off the old self and the old ways, delighting in putting on righteousness and holiness. They fill their lives with all that is good, trustworthy, admirable, up building and holy. They understand that all things are permissible, but not everything is beneficial, up building and constructive. (See 1 Corinthians 6: 12; 10:23-24) Therefore, wise people do not even get close to mud puddles. Wise people know, you can't play in the mud puddle and not get dirty.

Beloved, its time to be wise and not deceived. Let us flee evil, even its appearance. Let us never forget, we can't play in the mud puddle and not get dirty!

Keep Close To Jesus
Pastor Gerry


A Pause To Ponder God's Word is written and distributed by Gerald Whetstone, Ordained Elder and teacher in the Church of the Nazarene. These devotionals may be transmitted, duplicated, used in part or in entirety without permission for nonprofit purposes only. Responses welcome. To Subscribe Click Here.
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