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Our two-year-old German Shepherd/Golden Retriever mix, Kirby, was a mess.

Kirby found a mud hole in the back yard, was covered in mud from muzzle to tail, and wanted in. Though she was filthy, she was my dog and I loved her. So I let her into the laundry room.

Our dog appeared repentant, and looked at me as if she hoped I'd be merciful instead of treating her as she deserved. I’m sure it was a momentary lapse of judgment. Besides, her frolic in the oozy mud probably brought pleasure on a hot summer day—until she saw me.

Although this scenario occurred years ago and Kirby has since died, I smile when I think about it. And I reflect. I've wallowed around in mud holes of my own, and you may have too. Those temporary lapses of reasoning when we forget who we are and whose we are. When we forget we belong to a holy God and are called to a life of righteousness.

Our mud romp seems enjoyable for the moment—until we face our owner. Then we realize we have messed up and are sorrowful. There is nothing we can do to clean up the mess, so we depend on the mercy and grace of a God who does not treat us as our sins deserve—a God who does not repay us for our iniquities…a God who casts our sins as far as the east is from the west.

We stand before a God who does not wait for us to get all the mud off before He will let us enter His presence. God takes out His garden hose and washes us clean through the power of the sacrificial blood of our risen Savior, Jesus Christ. By Christ’s wounds, we are healed, cleansed, and found not guilty.

The next time you come upon a tempting mud hole, quit lingering near the mess, and run as far away as possible.

(Photo courtesy of author.)

(For more devotions, visit Christian Devotions.)