Max Lucado tells the story of the man who had been a closet slob for most of his life. He just couldn't comprehend the logic of neatness. Why make up the bed if you're just going to sleep in it again? Why put the lid on the toothpaste if you're going to take if off again in the morning? The man admitted to being compulsive about being messy.
Then he got married. His wife was patient. She said she didn't mind his habits...if he didn't mind sleeping on the couch. Since he did mind, he began to change. He joked that he had enrolled in a 12-step program for slobs. A physical therapist helped him rediscover the muscles used for hanging up shirts and placing toilet paper on the holder. His nose was reintroduced to the smell of Pine-Sol. By the time his in-laws arrived for a visit, he was a new man.
But then came the moment of truth. His wife was sent out of town for a week. At first he reverted to the old man. He figured he could be a slob for six days and clean on the seventh. But something strange happened. He could no longer relax with dirty dishes in the sink or towels flung around the bathroom or clothes on the floor.
What had happened? Simple! He had been exposed to a higher standard of living. That's what Jesus does too.
When we are exposed to the Gospel, Jesus changes us. Something needs to be done with our "old man," our sinful nature. So Jesus' Baptism cleans us up; His Word teaches us how to replace old habits with new purposes for living; His Supper gives us strength to live in love and forgiveness. No longer are we satisfied to sleep in the unmade bed of bitterness and anger. No longer are we willing to put our hands in the dirty sink of self-righteousness and pride.
Pick up your Bible this week and read of Jesus' sacrificial love and unlimited mercy for you. Know that the Spirit is at work through the Gospel, changing attitudes and behaviors. Who knows? You might find yourself picking up your clothes from the bathroom floor!
