Our last two dogs are the only purebreds we have ever had—Australian cattle dogs. Not Australian shepherds—different breed altogether—but cattle dogs, often called heelers. As is usually the case with purebreds, they had a few health issues that ordinary dogs (mutts) do not have. Chloe, for example, has rampant allergies.
At least twice a year for a good three months at the time, she wakens in the morning with a stuffy, runny nose. I have already written about how disgusting it can be to see what looks like two strands of spaghetti hanging out of a dog's nose. She has learned to "wipe" her nose every morning on the grass, but that only gets rid of the worst of it and before long she looks like a toddler with a bad cold—a wet, shiny spot under her nose that she can even blow bubbles in.
Because of that, her sense of smell is not so hot. We throw treats for her in the morning and often have to get up and help her find them. Even those loud-smelling things that look like bacon strips are difficult for her to sniff up. I have seen her step right over a snake when all of our other dogs have smelled them a good five feet away and either gone into a point or a crouch, ready to save their masters from the big, bad boogie-creature. But not Chloe. Whoever heard of a dog with no sense of smell?
And whoever heard of a Christian who has no sense of right? Whoever heard of someone who claims to be a child of God but does not understand purity and holiness in his life?
As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” (1Pet 1:14-16) Peter seems to expect that we will want to emulate our Father, just as small children like to wear their daddy's shoes and put on his hats, only in this case we emulate His holiness.
Paul lists in 2 Corinthians 6 the promises we have as children of God and finishes it up with a great motivational passage: Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God. "Let's cleanse ourselves," he says, as if it is something we should all want to do. (2Cor 7:1) We are ungrateful children when we do not grow in our holiness and purity.
And then, of course, Peter gives us the ultimate in motivation in these words: Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! (2Pet 3:11-12) If the positive won't work, the glorious promise of His welcoming us as His children (2 Cor 6:17, 18), perhaps the fear of punishment will do the trick!
I have heard people say that we need to learn how to be holy and pure and righteous. Really? Just ask your neighbors what a Christian should and should not do, how they should talk and dress, what sort of entertainment they ought not to participate in. Seems that even the godless know more than some of my brothers and sisters. If nothing else, look at the godly people who sit around you on Sunday morning. What do those women wear? How do those men talk? Do they stop at the bar for a drink after work? Do they watch smut on TV? It is not that hard to figure out what is and is not holy and pure behavior.
Whoever heard of a Christian who doesn't live a life of purity and holiness? Whoever heard of a child of God with no sense of right? Chloe can't help having no sense of smell. We don't have her excuse.
For My people are fools; they do not know Me. They are foolish children, without understanding. They are skilled in doing what is evil, but they do not know how to do what is good. (Jer 4:22)
Dene Ward
At least twice a year for a good three months at the time, she wakens in the morning with a stuffy, runny nose. I have already written about how disgusting it can be to see what looks like two strands of spaghetti hanging out of a dog's nose. She has learned to "wipe" her nose every morning on the grass, but that only gets rid of the worst of it and before long she looks like a toddler with a bad cold—a wet, shiny spot under her nose that she can even blow bubbles in.
Because of that, her sense of smell is not so hot. We throw treats for her in the morning and often have to get up and help her find them. Even those loud-smelling things that look like bacon strips are difficult for her to sniff up. I have seen her step right over a snake when all of our other dogs have smelled them a good five feet away and either gone into a point or a crouch, ready to save their masters from the big, bad boogie-creature. But not Chloe. Whoever heard of a dog with no sense of smell?
And whoever heard of a Christian who has no sense of right? Whoever heard of someone who claims to be a child of God but does not understand purity and holiness in his life?
As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” (1Pet 1:14-16) Peter seems to expect that we will want to emulate our Father, just as small children like to wear their daddy's shoes and put on his hats, only in this case we emulate His holiness.
Paul lists in 2 Corinthians 6 the promises we have as children of God and finishes it up with a great motivational passage: Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God. "Let's cleanse ourselves," he says, as if it is something we should all want to do. (2Cor 7:1) We are ungrateful children when we do not grow in our holiness and purity.
And then, of course, Peter gives us the ultimate in motivation in these words: Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! (2Pet 3:11-12) If the positive won't work, the glorious promise of His welcoming us as His children (2 Cor 6:17, 18), perhaps the fear of punishment will do the trick!
I have heard people say that we need to learn how to be holy and pure and righteous. Really? Just ask your neighbors what a Christian should and should not do, how they should talk and dress, what sort of entertainment they ought not to participate in. Seems that even the godless know more than some of my brothers and sisters. If nothing else, look at the godly people who sit around you on Sunday morning. What do those women wear? How do those men talk? Do they stop at the bar for a drink after work? Do they watch smut on TV? It is not that hard to figure out what is and is not holy and pure behavior.
Whoever heard of a Christian who doesn't live a life of purity and holiness? Whoever heard of a child of God with no sense of right? Chloe can't help having no sense of smell. We don't have her excuse.
For My people are fools; they do not know Me. They are foolish children, without understanding. They are skilled in doing what is evil, but they do not know how to do what is good. (Jer 4:22)
Dene Ward
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