One day I came home to discover my grandkids washing their dog in my ice chest. Poor thing. It was wintertime and, even in the south, it's too cold to run the water hose and wash a dog. Sadly, this creature was in desperate need of attention so he wasn't complaining one bit. The dog was a white, longed-hair thing who at this pointed resembled your grandmother's old mop hanging on the back porch. Definitely, the winter rains had not been kind to this dog as he was a collection of everything sticky and muddy. In fact, according to many folks on our street, it bordered on animal cruelty to NOT take him in and have him groomed. Finally, pity was taken on the dog and he was treated to a doggie-spa day.
Like most of us after a trip to the beauty shop, he returned a new man. His hair was short, he smelled good, and he walked with a strut. Hence the kids were now proud to play with this clean-smelling, clean-shaven pet instead of shunning him like Sunday's left-overs. In reality, nothing really changed about the dog except his outside appearance. He was still the lovable dog he always was, who longed for a pat on the head and a belly rub.
What had changed was how we looked at him. Aren't you glad you serve a God who loves you in spite of the way you look? If the winter months haven't so kind to you either, God doesn't care. And I'm not really talking about the dry skin or the fly-away hair that winter brings. I'm talking about some behaviors that you might have put on that aren't too flattering on you right now. The good news is God sees past the mistakes you've made and right to your heart. God knows all of your hurts and hang-ups and loves you anyway. My grandkids were so excited to see a clean dog and, once clean, they loved playing with him. But our God's love isn't defined by outside appearance, He loves us just as we are and His loving grace continually cleans us with the blood of Jesus Christ.
I love how Romans 8:31 reads in The Message, "Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ's love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed in Scripture: They kill us in cold blood because they hate you. We're sitting ducks; they pick us off one by one. None of this fazes us bbecause Jesus loves us. I'm absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God's love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us."
Wow! How's that for some comforting words. While a dirty dog might find himself in poor favor with the family, there is absolutely nothing you can do to drive God's love away from you.
Just dwell on that today and you'll have a better day!
Hugs,
Chrys
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