Fashion Statement

Mr. Bill brought Dustin home from baseball practice one time in the back of the truck.  I took one look at Dustin and understood why.  He was covered in mud from neck to the soles of his shoes.  He proudly told me how he dove for a ball right into the mud.  He said he didn't make the play, but the effort was awesome.  That, of course, was obvious!

God wants to clean us up real good ... from the inside out.  Dustin proceeded to the back yard, stripped down, and went straight to the shower.  In no time, there was no trace of the muddy mess he was earlier.  Gathering dirt is what we humans do best; no matter how hard we struggle for holiness, we get dirty.  Something or someone is always stirring the proverbial pot.  A little comment here or an unkind act there can easily send us into a mire of bad thoughts, words, and behavior.  Jesus was no stranger to this; there were countless people in His life wanting nothing more than to arouse anger, causing Him to react instead of respond.  In Matthew 23, He compared the religious leaders to cups clean on the outside but dirty on the inside.  We live in a world that focuses almost exclusively on the latest fashion and the name brand of clothes, shoes, pocketbooks, etc.  If we are serious about a life fashioned after righteousness, our heart will bear only one name brand -- Jesus Christ.  So, what's your fashion statement?