The Dirtmaster Special

Murphy with his favorite toy

     Our family pet is a most beloved Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier named Murphy, a.k.a. The Dirtmaster.  We call him that because he seems to attract sand, sand spurs, clinging seeds and almost anything that can catch on his soft hair.  When he returns from a walk, I can tell that he has explored the weeds and tall grass carefully for all that falls off on my floors.  Seems like I major in sweeping here at our home to get up all the sand almost every day.  Of course, Florida is one big sand dune and even though we have grass, Murphy can find areas in and around bushes that are filled with black sand.  He often comes in with his legs covered in the stuff.  Even though he creates extra work, we would not trade him for the world.
     At times, I wonder if God sees us in much the same way.  We can often wander into the weeds of life and step into a patch of thorns or sand spurs.  Certainly the Apostle Paul spent a good deal of
time warning Christians about all the pitfalls in this world.  We are saved by grace, washed by the blood of Christ, but we still carry about us the old man of the flesh that likes to wallow in the dirt.  As I see it, we have to make a choice every morning to put on the mind of Christ and be renewed in His Spirit even before we begin the day's activities.
     In the letter to the Ephesians, Paul contrasts the ungodly with those who have come to Christ.
Ephesians 4:20-24 tells us what we must do each day:  "But that is not the way you learned Christ! - assuming that you have heard about Him and were taught in Him as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness."  We can either allow the old self, with which we are very familiar, to run the show or we can consciously put on the new self in Christ.  We are no longer in bondage to the old man by the blood of Christ.  Before, we had no ability to walk away from sin and evil desires.  Now, by the grace of God, we have the Holy Spirit living in us to empower us to walk in holiness daily.  We don't have to wallow in the dirt any more.  We can wear our robe of righteousness.
     However, there will be those days and times when we allow the old self back in the driver's seat.  This is when we become human dirt masters carrying the grime of sin with us wherever we go.  When this happens, we do have an advocate who pleads for us before the Father in heaven (our Lord Jesus Christ).  I John 1:9 has the remedy:  "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."  We don't have to wait to be made right with God.  He hears us when we call to Him with a repentant heart in the name of Jesus Christ.  Now while the process is easy it can also be messy because sin brings with it consequences.  While God forgives the sinner, there are some things that cannot be "unsaid", "unseen" or "undone".  This is why we should start each day with the prayer that God would renew us in the spirit of our minds that we may be transformed in our thinking.  We must also declare to the Lord that we are putting on the new man and putting off the old.  With the help of the Holy Spirit, we can walk in the light as He is in the light.  No where is this promised to be an easy walk, but we know that it is a joy filled walk with the Lord by our side.
     If Murphy, our dog, is the dirt master than I am the bath master in charge of keeping him clean, groomed and brushed.  I take care of him because I love him.  I do think God looks at us when we get in the weeds and shakes His head too as we come trudging home with all that dirt.  But like the father who welcomes the prodigal son, God is more than ready to clean us up and set us back on the path if we will confess our sins and humble ourselves before Him.  Let us resolve to put on the new self each day and be renewed in the spirit of our minds so that we may bring glory to His name.  Remember...we are no longer slaves to the old self and sin!  Selah!