Story time! This afternoon, I'm monitoring my class during recess. I tell one of my students, "Do not step in that puddle." So, the student stands right beside it, longingly. I tell my student, "Don't place your left foot or your right foot in that puddle." The student continues to look at the puddle with longing but lets me know I'm heard. Minutes pass and my student has tuned out the frigid air, the noise of his classmates, and my presence. I express firmly, "Play somewhere else (back away from the mud)." Meanwhile, my student stares at the puddle with intensity. I turn to address two other students, and you know the rest. Within seconds, the student's sneakers, socks, and pants were covered in mud.
I asked, "Why did you step in that puddle?" The student responds, "Because you couldn't see me." I'm telling you, I felt so ashamed in that moment. Not for my student, I felt ashamed of myself. So many times (including early this morning), I step in the mud. I hear God saying," Don't step in that mess. Go play somewhere else!" Once I sink my feet deep down in the puddle, God reproves me. I feel humiliated. Yet a few moments prior, I tried to act like God couldn't see me. Silly rabbit! God sees everything. He catches my (longingly looking at the mud) "grown" self every time!
Unlike my student, I am always anxious for God to clean the mud off of me. If I heeded God's voice, I could've stayed clean the whole time. To be honest, the mud isn't that fun in the first place. Often, the thought of stepping in the mud is more fulfilling than the actual feeling of the wet dirt on my feet. Furthermore, the clean up process often takes a long time. I'm sharing this with you because as old as you may be, you will always be God's child. Just as you would like the young persons in your life to do, make the choice to [consistently] heed God's instructions. It's not enough for us to listen. Obedience is the key-start using it!