Have you ever…
Have you ever felt like you were trying to “create a silk purse out of a sow’s purse”? It could be in any area in your life personally or something materially that is connected with your life.
I feel like we have been trying to do that all our married life with our “60’s” mobile home. I think the first time we ever really did something in it was back in December 1995, just 3 months before one of our babies was to be born. We totally ripped out the mobile home kitchen and put in a new one. We did all the work ourselves because my husband is a cabinetmaker. I don’t know of anyone with such a nice kitchen in an old mobile home. We have had to do wiring changes over time, replaced all the plumbing, and furred out walls in bedrooms to add more insulation.
I am not sure what they were thinking way back but this mobile home really lacked in insulation. We qualified one year for our electric company to come out and do some extra insulating. They blew insulation into the belly of the mobile home and they also replaced all of our windows. Wow! What a difference that made.
Recent changes
The most recent changes have been the living room floor. We have changed the carpet probably twice since we have owned it but last week we did a drastic change. I decided if I ever did flooring again it would not be carpet. When you have those that will not take off their shoes and dogs that can’t take off their paws it becomes rather messy.
So last week we ripped up the carpet and put down laminate flooring. We did almost the cheapest we could find so who knows how long it will hold up but for the time being, it sure looks nice. And it will be easier to keep clean. I have to say that it shows up things more but that is a good thing. The carpet hid a lot of dirt.
It made me think
This project made me think of our spiritual lives. It seems that for whatever reason we want to hang on to the old things in life. And a lot of the old things are not things that are good. They are destroying our lives spiritually. We want to look good to other Christians so we try to dress up the outside and make ourselves look pretty good to those around us. Here is a little secret though, our families know the real us.
We may do the “right things” as far as what people can see but inside we are full of sin. Are we doing things for the right reasons? We are trying to create a spiritual silk purse out of a sow’s ear. And the reality is we are totally ugly. We may even be doing a lot of external changes that look good but we are full of anger, bitterness, unforgiveness, etc.
There is hope
I am so grateful that there is hope. There is no hope in us but there is hope in Jesus. Jesus can create something beautiful out of our lives if we surrender to Him. He does the work and our job is to cooperate with Him. He doesn’t just come in a pretty up the outside He changes things from the inside out. If the inside is created new the outside will show it. But if we are just trying to clean up the outside, it doesn’t clean up the inside. What we need is a totally new heart. If we allow Jesus to give us a new heart our desires will be different.
Good, I am glad Jesus does all the work
Wait! We do have a part to play. He does not force. We have to make a choice and whatever choice we make He accepts. If we make the choice to sin He steps back. He does not go against our will. In James 4:17 it reads, “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doth if not, to him it is sin.” If we know what God would have us to do and we do not do it then it is sin. But if we step forward and make the choice He will give us the power. I am grateful that God did not make robots out of us. He gave us a free will to choose.
Dear Father,
“Create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit within me; cast me not away from Thy Presence, and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation, and uphold me with Thy free Spirit.”
In Jesus Name,
Amen
Surrender all to Him today and cooperate with His leading.
Love you all.
How has God helped you to grow in Him?