In the building where I work, there are two nice rugs at the
door for wiping feet so that mud doesn't get everywhere. Sometimes the rugs get
missed and there’s a mess to clean up. Other times the rug itself gets quite
messy, as it’s been pretty muddy around here.
My dad loved the quote, “if all I ever do is look down, all
I’ll see is feet and mud”.
The woman who manages the building has to keep it clean, so
she has to clean those muddy messes up and keep those rugs looking ready to
use. No one really knows how much
everyday cleaning she does to keep things looking good and keep us from having
to walk through the mud. Without her to clean them pretty soon we’d all be
tracking dirt and leaves everywhere. We
probably take her for granted because it’s always done for us – all who work in
the building and all who come in to conduct business in the offices inside our
building.
Life can get messy. We can get bogged down in it. Pretty
soon if we’re not careful all we’ll see is the mess – feet and mud. Our
countenance begins to show our discouragement and we can’t get our eyes off the
mess. We may try to clean up our own
mess. We try to wipe our feet and leave it all behind. Not possible. We’re not
made to clean up our own junk. We don’t have the right tools or the right
equipment. We’re destined to remain
downcast and full of mud if we don’t look to someone who can clean it all up
for us.
That One is Jesus. He
came specifically to clean up our messy lives. He begins with giving us a new
heart, which in turn gives us a new outlook.
All our sins are not just swept under the rug but swept entirely
away. But we live in a real world, with
continued exposure to mud. We can’t
eliminate it entirely for even if we keep ourselves clean others bring mud
around us. We get hurt, we feel pain, and great disappointments shovel
themselves in our paths. It becomes a
mound of dirty stuff and we can’t get over it on our own. Jesus comes in and sweeps those hurts away.
His Word is His broom and mop, shovel and pail.
We call on Him and He sends His Word and His Spirit to help us.
God is even more wonderful to us. We see that pile of muddy
situations as a distraction and so much interference. But God sees it all as an opportunity for us
to grow in faith, grow in knowledge and grow in grace. Even the messiest of
situations can be refurbished into magnificent moments of God’s loving care.
Oh beloved, whatever you are facing this holy season
remember that Jesus is with you. He walks before you clearing the pathway, He
goes behind you keeping the enemy at bay and He surrounds you with the Holy
Spirit who will guide you and refresh you every single day. Don’t take this for granted, but take it all
as opportunities to give Him praise and glory. He loves you and He’s for you
and that, precious one, is your greatest gift, not just at Christmas but all
through the year.
Psalm 42:5 Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have
you become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him For
the help of His presence.
Psalm 44:3 They did not conquer the land with their swords;
it was not their own strong arm that gave them victory. It was Your right hand
and strong arm and the blinding light from Your face that helped them, for You
loved them.
Titus 3:5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we
have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of
regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit
Colossians 2:14 Having cancelled and blotted out and wiped
away the handwriting of the note (bond) with its legal decrees and demands
which was in force and stood against us (hostile to us). This [note with its
regulations, decrees, and demands] He set aside and cleared completely out of
our way by nailing it to [His] cross. (Amplified)
Psalm 103:12 As far as the east is from the west, So far has
He removed our transgressions from us.
2 Corinthians 5:21 He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on
our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, always ready to
help in times of trouble.
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